Gary O’Neil shared how Cherries appreciate their travelling support, stating: “We’re going to need them.”

Cherries fans will be travelling all over the country during the first two weeks since their side returned to action, starting with the trip to Newcastle last Tuesday.

Stamford Bridge is the next stop for the Cherries faithful on Tuesday, December 27, before another trek up north to see their favourites face Manchester United on Tuesday, January 3, the Dorset outfit’s first game of 2023.

With only one home game over the festive period, a fixture against Crystal Palace on New Year’s Eve, those hardy souls that travel to all three away games will travel approximately 1,839 miles, based on the distance from the Vitality Stadium to each ground as the crow flies.

Fans’ plans for the trip to Newcastle were thrown up in the air when the game was brought forward with little notice due to NHS strikes, with around 450 Cherries supporters making the journey to Newcastle.

The Daily Echo understands Cherries’ have sold out their allocation for the fixture at Chelsea.

Both games against Chelsea and Manchester United had been moved from their original dates of Boxing Day and Monday, January 2.

With train strikes, adjusted transport schedules and the financial pressures the winter holidays can place on families, O’Neil shared how he was “proud” of Cherries’ away support.

He shared: “I thought the support at Newcastle was incredible for considering how far it is, the weather, the late fixture change, the sort of the issue with transport as well at the moment.

“I appreciate their efforts.

“We're going to need them. I spoke about it a lot, speak about it when we play here, obviously, because the atmosphere we create here will be massive for us, but it’s the same on the road.

“So to see that many people come and support you, I was proud of the supporters, really, to give up their evening when it's a tough one, like a long journey back on a Tuesday night.

“And a lot of them will still be working, I would guess so, yes, we appreciate it.

“Hopefully they see that the lads are putting in a similar effort on the pitch.”