EDDIE Howe piloted Cherries to second place in League One and then admitted he had been “pleasantly surprised” by their start to the campaign.

Howe’s charges kept their unbeaten home record with a 3-0 win over Exeter on Tuesday, their energetic display coming in front of a season’s-best crowd of 6,823.

Two goals from Michael Symes – the first after just 100 seconds and the second from the penalty spot – sandwiched a Marc Pugh effort as Cherries made it 16 goals in five home league games.

Howe said: “I don’t think too many people expected us to start this well but we never doubted the players for a second and I always knew we were good enough. We have got to show it on a consistent basis and I think that’s how we will be judged.

“Our home record is good and we just hope we can keep it up. It won’t always be that way and it could have been different against Exeter. The work-rate and attitude of the players was second to none.

“Our fitness levels and energy are a feature of our play. If you play us, you know you are going to be in a game so I’m delighted with how the lads are looking.”

Howe added: “It was a massive game for us because we’ve got a tough run of fixtures coming up. To get back-to-back home wins leaves us going into two tough away games full of confidence.”

Asked whether he had any special plans to prepare for the trip to Southampton on Saturday, Howe joked: “Yes. We’re going to rip up the book and do something totally mad!”

He added: “We will prepare like we always do. We will be well versed on Southampton and will go there and try to get a positive result.”