MANAGER Eddie Howe believes Cherries are “on the right path now” following their confidence-boosting double header against Brighton.

Joshua King’s extra-time winner booked Cherries a place in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup at the expense of the Seagulls on Tuesday.

Victory came hot on the heels of Andrew Surman and Jermain Defoe netting to earn Cherries a 2-1 win against the Sussex outfit in the Premier League on Friday.

Howe’s team, who also kept their first clean sheet of the season in midweek, visit top-flight rivals Everton on Saturday bidding to follow up their recent exploits.

“I was very pleased with the two performances against Brighton,” said Howe.

“I think they showed the quality of our squad is stronger, although I know we have to prove that in the Premier League. But I think we are on the right path now.

“The cup game was strange and very similar in pattern to Friday where we dominated the ball.

“The big difference between the two games was the number of chances we created.

“I thought we had our fluency and rhythm going. Our final ball could have been better and maybe our finishing could have been more clinical.

“But I thought it was a very good performance against organised and well drilled opposition.

“We had to be patient. The dangers when you don’t score after creating so many chances is that you concede or lose your patience and stop trying to do the right things.

“We didn’t and we stuck to it and got our rewards in the end.”