BOSS Eddie Howe believes Cherries must use their wretched record against Manchester City to “inspire” them to create history.

The Dorset club have never beaten City in a competitive fixture and are yet to take a point off them in eight Premier League outings.

But with the two sides set to lock horns at Vitality Stadium on Sunday (2pm), Howe believes his charges are “getting closer” to making their mark against the defending Premier League champions.

Asked whether the club’s record against City frustrated him, Howe replied: “I wouldn’t say it frustrates me. I think it inspires me.

“We’ve got to try to turn that around and use that record to inspire us in this game.

“I don’t think we will be the only team to suffer a bad record against Manchester City in recent years.

“They are an outstanding team and every time we have played against them we have come off the pitch learning more about ourselves and what we have to do to grow and become better.

“We try to embrace these challenges, not look at it fearfully.”

Cherries were beaten 3-1 at City in December last season, before not having a shot on target in a 1-0 home defeat in March.

Howe added: “The two (games) against them last season were pretty strong. They were tight games.

“We lost 3-1 away and were in the game until the last 20 minutes and then the game here was very tight.

“We lost by the odd goal but we felt we were competitive without showing our best attributes in the game. We managed to limit their main strengths for spells.

“They have just got quality and they can hurt you in any moment of the game. We just came on the wrong side of the games against them.

“I’d like to think we are getting closer but the results will dictate that.”