DETERMINED Eddie Howe called on his players to rise to increased expectations ahead of their packed festive fixture schedule.

Cherries have lost five of their past six Premier League matches ahead of tomorrow's trip to 10th-placed Wolves (3pm).

Despite recent form, the Dorset club remain eighth in the top flight as the season heads towards the halfway stage.

Howe’s side face seven games in 22 days, including the Carabao Cup quarter-final at Chelsea on Wednesday and FA Cup third-round tie against Brighton in the new year.

Asked about the challenges of heightened expectations in Cherries’ fourth Premier League season, Howe said: “You learn to live with it. There is no point reflecting on it too much.

“You are in the situation you are in and the expectation is a good thing. It means there is an internal and external pressure on you to perform.

“We set very high standards for ourselves and high expectations of what we expect all of us to deliver.

“Sometimes that pressure is a good thing. We try to embrace it and not let it become a problem for us.”

He added: “I do not feel confidence has been low but naturally when you do not win consistently, which is what we all want to do, somewhere along the line you take a slight hit.

“It is important the players try not to let that affect them. We have to go into every game believing how good we can be as a team, truly believing in each other and with the quality we have we know everything is very short term.

“We are still in a great position in the league and one or two good results in this period could elevate us again.”

Wins for Nuno Espírito Santo’s side in their past two matches alleviated pressure in Wolves’s first season back in the Premier League. Reflecting on Cherries’ debut top-flight campaign, Howe said: “It was great from one perspective because you did not have any burden of expectation.

“Every game was a free hit and the supporters backed us to the hilt, whatever the situation. We could be 3-0 or 4-0 down and they were singing and happy to be involved in the Premier League. That quickly changes.

“There was a lot of challenges along the way and so many unknowns. Who would step up, who would not step up?

“I remember that year being a real steep learning curve for me in the Premier League and all the experiences it brought.

“Ultimately, we achieved our objectives but it was a rollercoaster, as most seasons are.”

Cherries’ most recent trip to Molineux saw them claim a 2-1 victory in a heated clash during their Championship-winning season.

Wolves had two players sent off and former owner Steve Morgan confronted referee Mike Jones at full-time.

Howe said Cherries had to try to impose themselves in the Premier League clash.

“In any away game in the Premier League, the first thing you have to do is stamp your authority on the game and deal with whatever is thrown at you,” said Howe.

“Looking back to that day in the Championship it was a feisty game. There was a lot at stake for both teams and, thankfully, in the end we came out on top.

“Whenever you play at Wolves you have got to try to impose yourselves on the game and that is what we are going to attempt to do.”