Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe delighted with top-flight progress

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe says his side have shown vast improvement since their last encounter with Manchester City.

The Cherries were hammered 5-1 at the Etihaad last October, but with the exception of a 3-0 defeat at Tottenham on March 20, Howe has been delighted with the team's performances in recent months.

"I think naturally we have moved on, hopefully for the better but that will be tested in the performance," said Howe ahead of Saturday's clash with Manuel Pellegrini's side at Dean Court.

"That game last year was a difficult one for us. We conceded very early and when you go away it does make it more difficult. The key thing is we learned from that and we have become a better team for the experience.

"I still feel the players are confident despite the Tottenham game, which was a really disappointing performance. We still feel as though we need results and points. I don't think we can afford to step off, and we will try and deliver."

Although City's form in the Premier League has dipped since the club announced Pep Guardiola will be taking charge of the team next season, Pellegrini remains focused on securing a place in the top four prior to his departure.

"He is still their manager so it changes nothing for us," added Howe. "It has been a difficult season for them - probably a season where they had such high expectations and things haven't gone quite the way they wanted them to.

"They are still in arguably the biggest competition, the Champions League, and if they can still win that then they will be looking back on an historic season for them."