Eddie Howe Admits He Enjoyed Bournemouth's Stalemate With Tottenham More Than Last Week's Hull Rout

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe heaped praise on his team's performance in the goalless draw with Tottenham and insisted he enjoyed the match more than the previous game where they thrashed Hull City 6-1.

The draw for Bournemouth demonstrates just how much Howe's team have improved since last year where they were trounced in this very fixture 5-1.

A dogged display saw them shutout Spurs for most of the game and they were left wondering what might have been after Charlie Daniels' early effort was pushed onto the crossbar by Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris.

The point gained from the match elevates the Cherries' into 10th in table as they continue a fine run of form which has seen them go four matches unbeaten in the league.

Speaking toSky Sportsafter the game, Eddie Howe was quick to praise his players and spoke of how much he enjoyed the game.

He said:"The 90 minutes today pleased me more [than the 6-1 win last weekend].I thought we were very good when you consider who we were playing against and the quality they have. They are an outstanding team.

Man of the match, @afcbournemouth's Harry Arter
43 touches
1 shot
25 passes
80% passing accuracy
7 tackles pic.twitter.com/IxsHsUfGVw

"We came into the game wanting to match them, to go toe-to-toe, and to play with a really high intensity and be very brave and to see where it got us.

"Our intensity stopped their rhythm and flow, especially in the first half, and it's a really valuable point."

The Cherries were forced into two late changes before kick off with the in-form Junior Stanislas pulling out with a leg injury and Andrew Surman failing a late fitness test due to illness.

Their replacements, Josh King and Dan Gosling, slotted into the team effortlessly however and Howe was delighted with the two replacements.

He added:"The lads responded really well for us," the Cherries boss added. "They are two huge players for us.

"Andrew Surman has been an ever present and outstanding. He really is a dictator of play for us and Junior is our chief creator in recent weeks.To perform in the manner we did without those two was really pleasing. Josh King and Dan Gosling came in and I thought were terrific."

Tottenham winger Moussa Sissoko facing retrospective ban after THIS elbow on Harry Arterhttps://t.co/ylSHb5z6Gw pic.twitter.com/xWsHj148jD

Howe was then pushed on what he made of the clash involving Harry Arter and Moussa Sissoko. The Frenchman appeared to catch Arter with a clear elbow in an off-field incident but the Bournemouth manager was quick to play down the incident.

"I didn't see it and I haven't seen a replay yet. Judging by Harry's reaction he's obviously been caught. He was a bit upset about the incident but knowing them [Spurs] and their players, I don't think it was intentional.

"I don't think at that stage of the game either side wanted a red card."