EDDIE Howe voiced his relief after admitting Cherries had “lacked sharpness and fluency” in their 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Norwich City.

A much-changed line-up edged through to the quarter-finals – equalling the club’s best run – after Junior Stanislas and Steve Cook struck either side of Onel Hernandez’s effort.

Norwich twice hit the post at Vitality Stadium and substitute Jordan Rhodes missed a gilt-edged opportunity when he headed wide from six yards in the dying minutes.

Howe said: “It was a tough night for us, I thought Norwich played very well. Full credit to them. We had watched them a lot and knew it was going to be a difficult game.

“They are a really improving team and one which will, on that evidence, take some stopping in the Championship.

“I thought they performed well and we were below par and that made it a really difficult game for us.

“We rode our luck but we got through and will certainly take that.

“It’s very difficult for me to say for sure (why the performance was below par). I need to speak to the players who played and gather their thoughts as well.

“We looked disjointed. Maybe the changes, maybe a couple of players who came in hadn’t had enough games behind the scenes.

“But we lacked a sharpness and a fluency which is usually there.

“Overall, it was a disappointing performance but I suppose there must have been good elements for us to withstand the pressure and find a way to win.

“Norwich had some presentable chances which they didn’t take. Artur (Boruc) made some good saves, which was important for us.

“It won’t be a game I will want to dwell on too much. I think it’s important we focus on the next challenge, which is a big one in Manchester United.

“We’re pleased to get through and it’s great to be in the next round but the performance is one we won’t want to remember for too long.

“That we won is the only positive I can find, really. Artur Boruc performed well in goal and Marc Pugh was his usual consistent self and gave everything to the game but there weren’t too many other positives.

“We’ve made this step, now we want to try to go one more and the motivation is huge. The semi-final is a different level.”

Howe hailed centre-half Cook for lashing home the winner.

“It was a big goal for him. He has, historically, come up with the spectacular,” said Howe.

“He has scored some memorable goals for us, this was more of a scrappy effort but it was a really important one at a really good time.”

Howe revealed Simon Francis had “tweaked his groin” prior to being substituted late on but was unsure on the severity of the injury.

Fellow defender Tyrone Mings missed the game due to a concussion sustained in training.