CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe insisted a back-five set-up had “given us a platform to be competitive”.

Howe picked Nathan Ake, Simon Francis and Steve Cook at centre-half for the 1-0 loss to Tottenham with Adam Smith and Charlie Daniels handed wing-back roles.

Cherries had previously used the same 5-3-1-1 formation in the last-gasp defeat to Manchester City at the end of August.

Howe said: “Both times the system has enabled us to be in the game and be very competitive, be solid, compact and hard to score against.

“In both of those games we had a counter-attack threat. We could have won the Manchester City game, let alone lost it and it was a similar story today.

“If we had taken those chances and those big moments when they came, the game could have been different. But I think the system has given us a platform to be competitive.

“I thought the organisation of the team was really good. The lads delivered the game plan superbly well.

“From a defensive perspective, we looked in control. We were in the game and created chances and although the result went against us, there were lots of positives to take.”

Cherries will hope to return to winning ways when they travel to Stoke City on Saturday.