AFC Bournemouth: Eddie Howe says 'this is pressure time'

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe says the club are entering a "pivotal" period in their season with 10 games left, admitting it is now "pressure time".

The Cherries moved to the top of the table on 12 February but have lost every league game since.

They now lie seventh, two points adrift of the play-off positions with leaders Doncaster the visitors this weekend.

"This is pressure time, we need a good response from everybody and a real determination to win games," said Howe.

"This is the run-in, this is the important time of the season and we need the town to unite behind us because this is a pivotal period for us."

The Cherries had climbed from the relegation zone on their rise to the top of League One, losing just one league match in 21 games.

However, four straight defeats have dented their promotion hopes and Howe says it is essential they get back on track on Saturday.

"We are raring to go," Howe told BBC Radio Solent.

"There is nothing drastically wrong and we are one win away from having a totally different perspective on things.

"We've been back to basics and I've been pleased with the response in training this week.

"It's so tight at the top and one result can change everything, and we are looking for one result to spark us into life and we haven't got many games left so we need to do it now.

"We've got five home games and five away games, and I think we can win all 10 and that has got to be our aim.

"We are not panicking but we do need to turn things around quickly. One defeat could blow our chances so it is a testing time."

Meanwhile, Howe has paid tribute to long-serving member of staff Mick Cunningham who was this week made redundant by the club.

Cunningham lost his job along with other several members of staff including commercial executive Tom Jeffes and youth-team coach Ross Embleton.

"Mick was a huge character and put in a huge amount of work for this football club," Howe added.

"I cannot speak highly enough of him for the work he produced and his loyalty to the club.

"He has been of huge support to me, the players and the club and I'm very sad to him leave.

"I can only wish him well in his future career. It is always a sad day when you lose colleagues you are close to."