GARY O’Neil says Cherries recording three away Premier League wins on the trot for the first time “shows what the players are about”.

Never before in Cherries’ previous five-year stay did they record three victories on the road in succession.

But they have now achieved that feat, Thursday’s 1-0 triumph at Southampton following up wins at Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

The run is all the more impressive given Cherries headed to King Power Stadium in the relegation zone, having won just two of their previous 14 Premier League games on the road this season.

These three wins have helped lift O’Neil’s men up to 14th in the table, seven points clear of the bottom three.

“It’s a big achievement,” boss O’Neil told the Daily Echo.

“Credit to the players, because winning away in the Premier League is tough.

“To do it at this stage of the season, against two other relegation-threatened teams, plus a Champions League club, it shows what the players are about really.

“It shows the mentality to go away from home, but also quality, because you don’t win three games away on mentality alone.

“It’s an impressive run from them. Three away wins on the trot, some special memories created this year on the road.

“Let’s hope we add a home win on Sunday.”

Defender Chris Mepham, who has played a key role in all three wins, added: “It’s amazing really.

"Getting a win on its own in the Premier League is massive. But to get three away from home and I think three games where we’ve thoroughly deserved it.

“To go 1-0 down away to Spurs, you’ve got a mountain to climb, but I think the character from the lads that day, with the Leicester one, I think we’ve really stamped our authority coming away from home. Hopefully we can carry on.”

Cherries have just two more away trips this season, at Crystal Palace and Everton next month.

First, they host Leeds United on Sunday (2pm).