JORDAN Zemura insists dropping into the relegation zone for the first time this campaign is not a psychological blow to the squad, adding: “By the end of the season, we’ll be in a very good place.”

Zemura was one of five men drafted into the starting XI to face Nottingham Forest on Saturday, as Cherries looked to halt a run of six straight defeats in all competitions.

The 23-year-old impressed going forwards from left-back on his 14th top-flight appearance, winning the man-of-the-match award as the two sides shared a 1-1 draw.

Despite picking up a point, Cherries slipped down to 18th in the table, with 17 points from their 20 matches.

Just three points separate 14th-placed Leicester City and rock-bottom Southampton.

Asked if it is a blow mentally to know Cherries will be in the bottom three for two weeks before they return to the field at Brighton on February 4, Zemura told the Daily Echo: “No, nothing like that. I think from bottom of the table to where Forest are is five or six points difference.

“That’s two games, two wins and then they could be where Forest are (in 13th).

“I think for us, we know we’re there, we’re still fighting, we’re in and around it.

“It’s January now, more players are coming back from injury and then Dango (Ouattara) was excellent, we’ve got players like that coming in.

“It’s perfect and I think by the end of the season, we’ll be in a very good place.”

Asked if the prospect of relegation is ever mentioned among the squad, Zemura added: “No, not at all.

“We’re on 17 points and the team above us is on 17 points and then the team above that is on 18 points, then it’s 18 points.

“So we’re all in and around it. That’s the battle. That’s the beauty of it.

“You go on a good run, you win three games on the bounce, you find yourselves in the top 10. That’s just how it works.

“I think the good thing for us is we’re not wasting by the side and not competing – we’re competing every game and we’re fighting for these three points.

“I think by the end of the season we’ll be in a very good place. And we’ll have worked hard for that.

“It’s our first season back for a couple of years, a young squad, it’s entirely new for these players. Myself personally coming in and playing in the Premier League, it’s like ‘woah, this is different’.

“I’m enjoying every moment of it.”

Prior to drawing with Forest, Cherries’ previous two home displays had resulted in disappointing defeats against Crystal Palace and Burnley.

Quizzed on if the team felt pressure to perform at home after recent performances, Zemura said: “The fans are entitled to their opinions and it’s been fair.

“When you lose six on the bounce, it’s not a happy camp.

“That’s one thing, but I think what the gaffer has reiterated a lot throughout that time period is there’s enough here. He believes in all of us in the team and he knows things are going to change if we keep playing the way we were playing.

“And he’s right. I think Saturday just shows that. We were just unfortunate not to take more than one goal.

“The fans were with us on Saturday as well, we just bounce off each other. It was a better day all round.”