NATHAN Ake knows Cherries must quickly find a cure for their sluggish starts if they are to keep their place at the top table.

A survey by talkSPORT revealed Cherries would be in the bottom three based on scores at half-time in each Premier League game this season.

Cherries have trailed at the interval in their past three games and have only been leading at the break four times during the current campaign.

The alarm bells again sounded when Eddie Howe's men fell 2-0 behind against Newcastle on Saturday before late goals earned them a share of the spoils.

According to the report – which ranks all 20 clubs on their half-time scores – Cherries would have 27 points from four wins and 15 draws.

Crystal Palace would be bottom on 22 points with Swansea one off the foot on 24. Cherries would be below Everton (28) with Newcastle, West Ham and Stoke all on 30 points.

Ake has been one of Cherries' star performers since his club record £20m move from Chelsea in the summer and has featured in all 28 games in the Premier League.

The Dutch defender said: "This season, we have started too slowly in too many games.

"We looked okay in the first 10 minutes against Newcastle but, after they had scored the first goal, we were too slow and second best to everything. Both goals were sloppy.

"It is hard to put your finger on it but we have to look at ourselves. We played with so much energy in the final 20 minutes on Saturday and, if we could start like this, it would make it much easier for us.

"I think it is something we have to look at and ask why we played like that in the first half.

"The league is tight and it was an important point. In the end, we were happy with a point but needed all three because teams below us are picking up points."

Ake, whose two goals this season came against West Ham and Chelsea during Cherries' club-best seven-match unbeaten run in the top flight, is hoping for a fast start at Leicester on Saturday.

He added: “We have a good enough squad and our aim is to look up the table rather than below us.

“Leicester is going to be really important and, hopefully, we can start much better than we did against Newcastle.

“The game will be difficult. They have really good strikers and are organised.

“It will be tough but we will go there with a game plan and, hopefully, we can win.

"Jamie Vardy is a really good striker. He is quick so we have to focus on this and look to keep him out of the game.

“He is quite smart and you always have to be 100 per cent focussed because one long ball and he can be out of the way. He is very clever. I think it will be a good test and, hopefully, we will do well.”