JUBILANT Eddie Howe hailed his Cherries players for emerging unscathed from their toughest Premier League season yet.

Victory over Swansea City on Saturday guaranteed Cherries a fourth straight campaign in the top flight, Ryan Fraser's first-half strike proving the difference between the teams.

And boss Howe was relieved to have finally secured survival courtesy of a second victory in 11 games.

Reflecting on staying up, he told the Daily Echo: "It’s a huge achievement and I’m very pleased for everyone connected with the club, the supporters first and foremost. They have been with us, home and away all season.

"I’m so pleased for the owners, they have backed me and invested a lot of money. I’m very pleased to pay them back with another season of Premier League football.

"I’m so pleased for the players because everyone has different journeys to get to this point in their careers. I have such a loyal and hard-working group and I’m delighted they have got their reward.

"It's been a tougher season – our hardest challenge so far.

"In the first season, every game was treasured because at this club we’d never done it before. Win, lose or draw, it didn’t matter, we were cheered and clapped off as heroes. In itself that makes it a lot easier to handle, although it didn’t feel that way at the time.

"In the second season, there was still a novelty, to a degree, and we certainly felt that at times.

"This season has been harder because everyone has expected us to do it and you can feel the atmosphere around the grounds has made it tougher for us."

Howe revealed the challenges of another Premier League campaign had taken their toll and admitted he would require some rest and relaxation after the final game of the season at Burnley.

He said: "Keeping myself fresh is a challenge and I’ve really felt the effects of this season. It’s been a hard one. I am definitely going to need to recharge my batteries more than any other season.

"Given the way I work, they are very long days because I want to be the best I can be.

"If you do something properly, you almost have to become obsessive over it. When you are obsessive over something, you end up pushing yourself very hard.

"That’s what I have done and I’ve got no problem doing it and I’ll try to do it again next season. But I am going to need to recharge this summer.

"I haven't got a holiday planned because there were so many unknowns going into the Swansea match. Hopefully, now I can plan what I am going to do."

Put to him that his family would be pleased to see him relax, Howe added: "I don’t think my family will give me a choice. If I didn’t, I would probably be in a one-bed flat somewhere!"