SOME statistics in football come and go like the wind.

A winless run is long forgotten after a single victory and a marksman's goal drought can be banished with one fortunate touch of the ball.

Unfortunately, a team's defensive record remains with them from August until May, whether it is the best of the bunch or worst in show.

Cherries' five clean sheets provide the ninth-highest tally in the Premier League but 42 goals in the conceded column deliver the third-worst record in the top flight.

Sunday's television broadcast from Goodison Park keenly pointed out the Dorset club had conceded 12 goals in their three previous league outings before the 2-0 defeat on Merseyside.

Goals against at Burnley, Wolves and Everton came when Cherries chased a route back into the game.

In October, Eddie Howe, never one to rest on his laurels, admitted more defensive progress was needed after watching arguably his team's best performance of the season in winning 4-0 at Watford.

But a delve into this season's team selections revealed a tale of uncontrollable injuries which stalled this ambition.

In 27 games across all competitions, Howe utilised 11 outfield players in 14 different defensive combinations.

His most frequent unit, implemented in seven matches, saw Simon Francis, Steve Cook, Nathan Ake and Charlie Daniels operate together.

This was followed by Francis, Cook, Ake and Adam Smith in five fixtures and Smith, Cook, Ake and Daniels in three games.

Smith, Cook, Ake and Diego Rico started together twice, while the 10 other selections, a mixture of back fours and fives, were all used in just one match.

A range of factors provided the mixed selections, from short-term injuries for Daniels and Francis to Smith's suspension for a red card against Everton in August.

In October and November, Howe appeared to favour the four of Francis, Cook, Ake and Smith, until the latter suffered the knee problem at Newcastle, which ruled him out until last weekend.

Daniels stepped into familiar shoes at left-back for four matches in a row before a switch to a five-man defence for the losses at Wolves and Chelsea.

Howe returned to Francis, Cook, Ake and Daniels for the win against Brighton and defeat to Tottenham.

While any 5-0 reverse could do damage, the Cherries skipper's ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury broke partnerships which could take weeks to replace.

However, the quartet of Nathaniel Clyne, Cook, Ake and Smith, which started at Everton for the first time, could underpin a resolute backstop for Cherries to build upon.

In two matches since signing on loan from Liverpool, Clyne's Premier League class offered a positive at both ends of the pitch in two disappointing defeats.

Smith showed crucial and welcome versatility to start six of his 13 appearances this season in a relatively unfamiliar left-back berth.

Cherries' talks with Brentford over centre-back Chris Mepham shows Howe is looking to strengthen.

Whether the move materialises or not, fortune on the injury front would provide priceless redress to reinforce the Cherries ship and set course on an improved defensive record.