Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe wants to see greater improvements at the back.

Last season, the Dorset club recorded the joint-lowest amount of shutouts in the top flight alongside relegated Stoke City.

Asked if the clean sheet in victory at Watford had pleased him as much as the goals, Howe told the Daily Echo: “Absolutely. It's the area we have to improve more than any other.

“Even when we have dominated this season, we have ended up conceding one or two goals.

“We weren't at our very best at Watford but we kept a clean sheet and there were a lot of good defensive performances within that, so that was really pleasing."