Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe was delighted with their crucial win at Stoke City.

The Cherries won 2-1 thanks to goals from Andrew Surman and Junior Stanislas.

Howe said: "I thought we showed the two sides to our game.

"The football we played first half was excellent. I thought we were very good and had total control.

"You knew at halftime the game would change with the weather and Crouch coming on so the most pleasing thing is, at 2-1, with a large proportion of the game left, we looked very solid and didn't really give them many clear-cut chances.

"I've never doubted the players' character or desire to play for the club. We've just not quite been ourselves early in the season.

"I think that's knocked confidence levels and of course confidence is such a huge thing in sport and if you don't have it at its highest levels then you're not going to perform as well.

"Hopefully results like this will return us to our very best."