Harry Redknapp praises Eddie Howe and backs Bournemouth to beat the drop
Wednesday 8 February 2017 13:40, UK
Harry Redknapp has praised Eddie Howe for sticking to his footballing principles and says Bournemouth have enough quality to steer clear of relegation.
The south coast club's form has dipped in recent weeks, with just one win in their last eight Premier League games seeing them slip to 14th in the table and just six points above the bottom three.
However, Redknapp, who spent nine years in charge at Dean Court, has backed Howe's attacking style of play and believes his former club need four wins to secure their top-flight status.
"Absolutely, that's what has made Bournemouth what they are," Redknapp told the Bournemouth Echo when asked if Howe was right to carry on playing his attacking game.
"They attack teams, they play fantastic, open attractive football. They score goals. They've not come into the league and tried to bore everybody to death by hanging on for results.
"They've taken it to other teams and they've beaten good teams - big teams. That's how they play. They're not set up to change, that's the way they are and long may it continue. Some of the football they've played again this season has been incredible. I love watching them play.
"Eddie runs a tight ship. They will stick together, that's what's made them what they are. They have no big heads. They look like a great bunch of lads, so there's no problem there.
"There's one or two other clubs down there who look like they do have some problems, but I don't see that with Bournemouth. They probably need four wins - and perhaps a couple of draws - and they'll be safe. There is enough quality in the team to pick up those results, no doubt."
Live Monday Night Football
Bournemouth host Manchester City next on Monday Night Football, live on Sky Sports 1HD, but Redknapp thinks different issues have unsettled the Cherries' backline and believes regaining defensive stability will be vital going forward.
"They're a good side, but just recently they've had injuries to Adam Smith and Charlie Daniels, then Nathan Ake went back to Chelsea and they lost Simon Francis for three games," Redknapp said. "That's meant they've had to chop and change. I think that's just disrupted them a little bit.
"But that's how football is. You lose your important players and it's difficult, it changes everything - and they're very important players.
"Steve Cook and Francis were fantastic in the middle of defence when they were playing there and I'm sure when Eddie has a settled back four again Bournemouth will be fine.
"They're going to have blips, it's a miracle what they've achieved and they will have little spells when it doesn't go right."
