CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe promised to make his players keenly aware of supporter sacrifices and vowed to make the lengthy trip to Huddersfield Town worthwhile on their behalf.

Sunday's 12noon kick-off time means in excess of 1,200 travelling fans face an early start to get to the BT Sport-televised clash at John Smith's Stadium, where Cherries will aim to extend to eight matches their unbeaten Premier League run.

A supporters' coach leaves Weymouth at 1.45am, while departures from Dorchester (2am), Poole (2.40am) and Branksome (2.50am) offer only a fragment more sleeping time.

The biggest 'lie-in' comes for fans getting a supporters' coach from Vitality Stadium, which is due to depart at 3.30am. In addition to the lengthy journey, the inhospitable leaving times reflect legal obligations over stopping for breaks and changing drivers.

Reflecting on the arduous trek, Howe told the Daily Echo: "I've never heard anything like it. I was checking the kick-off time because I thought: 'that is an early time to leave'.

"I think 1,200 fans are travelling up and I couldn't believe that number. It goes to show the commitment and the sacrifice made by a lot of people to support the team.

"It's never underestimated by me. It's incredible when you think of the money involved and the disruption to their lives for that period of time.

"My biggest thing is to make sure they feel at the end of it that the trip has been worthwhile. We need to make sure we perform and use that as a motivation for the players to give more.

"I will give that information to the players, without a doubt, I think they need to know. What I have to do is make sure the players understand that and give that little bit more in the game."

Kick-off was moved to midday in the wake of BT securing television rights for the game.

Asked if this was an example of TV negatively impacting fans, Howe said: "Bournemouth travelling to Huddersfield for an early kick-off is not ideal for our supporters, that's a pretty obvious statement.

"It's difficult for me to criticise the TV people with the revenue they give the game and the difference that has made but it's far from ideal for our fans."

Quizzed on the earliest he had ever got up for a game as a manager, player or fan, Howe said: "Not as early as that, I can assure you. Any Bournemouth fan travelling isn't going to get much sleep.

"When you love the game and you are fanatical about your team, I think you are prepared to make sacrifices and do things you don't even hesitate about.

"You want to do it because you are so desperate to see the match, so full compliments to every Bournemouth fan going.

"I don't think it will be too bad for us because we will fly up. In the old days, if this was a League One or League Two game, we would be travelling six or seven hours by coach and that would have an effect mentally rather than physically.

"But with planes and the ease of modern-day travel, there are no excuses."