BOSS Eddie Howe believes Cherries can draw on the club’s previous experiences of escapology in a bid to survive in the Premier League this season.

Howe famously pulled off a great escape when the Dorset club looked certain to go out of the Football League back in 2009.

Despite two defeats as caretaker boss, he was appointed as permanent manager in January of that season, with the club 10 points adrift of safety in League Two following a 17-point deduction.

With now assistant manager Jason Tindall, assistant first-team coach Steve Fletcher, as well as the likes of coaches Alan Connell and Mark Molesley playing in that campaign, Howe guided his side to safety on the penultimate day of the season.

Almost 11 years on, Cherries find themselves two points above the bottom three at England’s elite level, with 11 league games remaining.

Speaking about the fight for survival following Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Burnley, Howe told the Daily Echo: “We feel we have been here before.

“A lot of the staff have been in the position.

“Some of the players might not have been but I think we can certainly draw on all of those experiences in this moment.

“We are going to have a big battle on our hands. We have some big matches to come.

“I thought on Saturday, very similar to Sheffield United, we played very well and ended up getting beat.

“But we know the ability is there, we just have to put it all together.”

He added: “You have to respond in the way to create a siege mentality.

“Things are perceived to be going against us. Let’s use that to create a stronger bond between us and the outside – and build on the team spirit we already have that is very strong.

“The fixture list is what it is, every game is so difficult whether you are playing the top teams or the bottom teams in the division, it’s very little difference.

“The mentality has to be right from us. We have to play very well to win. If we don’t, we won’t, so the power is very much in our hands.”