GOALKEEPER Mark Travers has shared how Gary O’Neil has taken “everything in his stride with management”.

Cherries’ hunt for a permanent manager following Scott Parker’s sacking in August ended on Sunday, when the decision to install caretaker boss O’Neil on a permanent basis was made.

In 12 games in charge of Cherries, O’Neil has steered the club to 13 points from 11 Premier League games, as well as securing safe passage through to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with victory over Everton.

Clearly popular with the squad at Cherries, O’Neil’s first steps into management were to pick up a side still reeling from a 9-0 loss away at Anfield.

During O’Neil’s brief reign so far there have been mixed results, Cherries starting with a six-game unbeaten streak before falling to four straight losses, including two games where the Dorset club threw away two-goal leads to lose 3-2 and 4-3 to Tottenham and Leeds respectively.

However, Cherries again rallied, ending the first half of the season with a pair of victories over Everton.

Recently reinstalled to the starting XI after O’Neil’s first choice ‘keeper, Neto, was sidelined with a hamstring injury, Travers believes his side were unlucky not to have more points after 15 games played.

Following their last game, a 3-0 victory over Everton, the Irishman told the Daily Echo: “He’s been brilliant, really, since he’s come in.

“I think it’s been 12 games now. He’s done really well. We’ve played some unbelievable football.

“We’ve been unlucky not to get more points, the last 60 minutes against Leeds and Tottenham.

“I thought we were excellent and played really good football, it was just us at the back trying to tidy things up and I thought we did that (against Everton).

“He’s been really good with all the lads and really took everything in his stride with management. I thought he got us playing really good football and some really good results as well.

“I think to bounce back after the start of the season and the results we had was great credit to the lads.

“We know it’s going to be a tough league and we know how tight it is. One win can push you up a few places or a couple of defeats and you’re back down there again.

“So we’ve got to remain level-headed and we know there’s a long way to go in this season.

Cherries fly out to Dubai tomorrow for a warm weather training camp, where they will also face Belgian top-flight outfit Royal Antwerp in a friendly on Sunday, December 4.