Eddie Howe: South coast derby draw a fair result

Eddie Howe believes Bournemouth did not do enough to claim three points against Southampton, which held the Cherries to a goalless draw.

Eddie Howe says his team can play better.

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe claimed a draw was a fair result after his side was held by south-coast rival Southampton.

Two back-to-back Premier League wins prior to the international break had Bournemouth flying heading into Saturday's clash at the Vitality Stadium, but the Cherries failed to make the most of its opportunities in a goalless game of few chances.

And Howe, whose side still sits sixth, acknowledged that Bournemouth must play better if it is to maintain its good run.

"We really didn't get going and we know we can play better than that," Howe told a news conference. "A draw is a fair result.

"Southampton did make it difficult for us to get going and we have to look at ourselves, analyse why we didn't reach those levels.

"We are frustrated that in a game of minimal chances, when they came we didn't take them. But Southampton could probably say the same."

Josh King wasted Bournemouth's best opportunity, scuffing wide from close range, while Asmir Begovic did well to keep out a pair of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg efforts.

Charlie Austin also squandered a decent chance for the visitor, which has only one win to its name this term, but manager Mark Hughes was encouraged by the display.

"I thought in terms of clear cut chances on the day, ours were obviously more clear cut and we had more potential to convert, but in the end it's a good performance," he said. "We've come to Bournemouth who are absolutely flying at the moment, but we came here with a plan and really negated their threat all afternoon. "They never really got any significant periods of momentum. They may have had a little bit of a go towards the end of the game, but for the most part we dealt with everything that they threw at us and we were always a problem going the other way for them. "I felt the performance deserved three points, but we'll take the point because it's a difficult place to come here."