Bournemouth midfielder Andrew Surman has urged the squad to carry momentum through to next term after achieving a top-half finish in 2016-17.
The Cherries defied expectations once again last term as they enjoyed a successful second campaign in the Premier League.
Bournemouth, who are priced at 5.50 to be relegated in 2017-18, started 2016-17 strongly but a poor run of results throughout January and February saw them slip down towards the bottom three.
Eddie Howe managed to galvanise his troops for the final period of the term and three victories from their last five outings saw them propelled to a ninth place finish.
Surman insists the squad were delighted to finish in the top-half but admitted there was a feeling of frustration as they could have finished eighth, having missed out on goal difference to South coast rivals Southampton.
The midfielder has now challenged the squad to take the momentum through into 2017-18 as they aim to hit the ground running in their third successive top-flight season.
Surman said: “To finish ninth in our second season in the Premier League is a massive achievement.
“We all believed we could finish in the top half and we are probably a bit frustrated because we could have finished eighth.
“We had a bad run in January and February but came out of it really strongly.
“To be unbeaten in our last five games – having lost four of the final five last season – is testament to how far we have come.
“It was important to take momentum into the summer and into next season.”
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