TIRELESS boss Eddie Howe admitted Cherries’ defence required more improvement than any other area.

Howe saw Cherries secure their second clean sheet of the Premier League campaign in the 4-0 win at Watford on Saturday.

Last season, the Dorset club recorded the joint-lowest amount of shutouts in the top flight alongside relegated Stoke City.

Asked if the clean sheet at Vicarage Road had pleased him as much as the goals, Howe told the Daily Echo: “Absolutely. It’s the area we have to improve more than any other.

“Even when we have dominated this season, we have ended up conceding one or two goals.

“We weren’t at our very best at Watford but we kept a clean sheet and there were a lot of good defensive performances within that, so that was really pleasing.”

Cherries have no game this weekend but return to action against Southampton a week on Saturday.

Howe said: “Ideally, you would want another game quite quickly but it is what it is.

“When we have a setback, we pride ourselves that we can come back better after two weeks of working with the team so the same should work after a good result.

“You have momentum and a really good atmosphere. We will try to build on that and make sure we are good in our next game.”