AFC Bournemouth: Adam Smith hails 'Premier League' Cherries

Adam Smith has made nine appearances for Bournemouth this season

Bournemouth defender Adam Smith has said his side's League Cup victory over West Brom proved the Cherries have Premier League quality in their ranks.

The Championship side's 2-1 win over the top-flight opponents saw them reach the quarter-finals for the first time.

It was their fifth successive victory, and they sit fourth in the second tier.

"The football we play is Premier League standard and we have shown we can compete with top-flight teams," Smith, 23, told BBC Radio Solent.

The result at Dean Court followed on from a record 8-0 win over Birmingham at the weekend.

Midfielder Eunan O'Kane scored Bournemouth's first goal against the Baggies and believes Tuesday's result will give them huge confidence for the rest of the campaign.

"It's a great result, we've come up against a good Premier League side tonight," O'Kane said.

Callum Wilson struck the winner with four minutes to spare after Tommy Elphick's own goal levelled matters

"It's massive credit to us that we've managed to give a good account of ourselves.

"We were never really under tremendous amounts of pressure and I felt we held our own and even their goal they were fortunate to get. From our point of view, it's been a good night all-round."

And the former Torquay midfielder says the nature of the performance also shows how far the club have come in a relatively short space of time.

Only six years ago, Bournemouth started the League Two season with a 17-point deduction for exiting administration in an incorrect manner,

"I remember playing Wigan here when we were in League One and they were in the Premier League and we set up 4-5-1 hoping to hit them on the break," he said.

"But now it was 4-4-2 and it was us against you. It was a huge statement in how far the club has come in such a short period of time.

"Hopefully we've proved to ourselves that we can do it and can play at that level. There is no reason why if we continue to play well and get these results that we won't be there."

And Smith added: "We're making winning a habit, that is a good thing. The character and spirit we have in this camp, if we continue to show this (form) there is no limit for us."