EDDIE Howe insists “standards have not dropped” as Cherries seek to arrest their slump in form.

A 3-1 home defeat to Burnley last time out saw Cherries slip to 13th in the Premier League after a run of just one win in nine games since the memorable 4-0 victory over Chelsea at Vitality Stadium in January.

Howe’s men sit 10 points clear of the relegation zone with five games to play, starting with Saturday’s trip to Brighton & Hove Albion (3pm).

The Cherries boss told the Daily Echo: “Every game you play, whether it is a pre-season friendly, a training game or a Premier League game, you want to win.

“I am desperate to win everything I compete for. I can assure everybody standards have not dropped and no-one has taken their foot off the gas.”

He added: “There were some strong words after the Leicester game (a 2-0 defeat on March 30).

“We have made it very clear we are disappointed together and now it is a case of trying to pick the players up."