Bournemouth centre-back Steve Cook says the simple process of hard work on the training ground has been behind recent improved defensive displays.

Cook hailed club legend and coach Steve Fletcher for restoring confidence at set-pieces to the back four.

"At 44, I don't think there's many better in the air than him," Cook said.

"The coaches are always thinking."

"You're never done, I don't think, at this club," Cook told BBC Radio Solent. "It's been helpful and we've been working really hard on the training pitch with Fletch."

Following a barren run at the turn of the year of just two points from a possible 21, the Cherries have taken seven points from their past three games to move nine clear of the bottom three.

"We've come through that tough period, which was worrying," Cook added. "But we're a strong group and we've stuck together and we've ground out three great results.

"When you're conceding goals, it's hard to take as that's your job. That's been frustrating as, at the start of the season, we weren't conceding that many."