GARY O’Neil believes Cherries are safe from Premier League relegation after this afternoon’s 4-1 thumping of Leeds United.
Following on from Thursday’s triumph at Southampton, Cherries are now up 13th in the Premier League table, sitting on 39 points with four games to play.
While not mathematically safe, Cherries are now all but guaranteed of a second successive season in the top flight, moving 10 points clear of the relegation zone ahead of struggling Leicester City and Everton facing each other on Monday evening.
Asked if he feels Cherries now have enough points to avoid the drop, boss O’Neil said: “Yes, I would think 39 is enough.
“That doesn’t mean we stop of course. The lads have got a couple of days off.
“They’ve had a very big week. We’ll give the boys a couple of days off, let them enjoy it and then let’s knuckle down and see how many points we can get from the next 12 (available).
“39 points from 34 games is a hell of an effort.”
After the game, Cherries’ players and staff went around to each corner of the ground to applaud the fans.
“I thought it was important we did that together,” said O’Neil.
“39 points from 34 games is a big effort. I wanted to make sure the lads went round together and showed their appreciation of the support we’ve had from the fans.
“Because not many people outside of Bournemouth would’ve given us a prayer this year really.
“I’m just really proud of a group that I’ve worked with for quite a while now, from different positions.
“To have had as many questions asked of them as they have, to have been written off by so many people and to get to 39 with four games still to play is an incredible effort.
“I’m very proud of the group. And everyone. Whether you’ve played a game, whether you’ve played 34, whether you’ve been in the treatment room, physios, everyone that’s played a part.
“It was a big effort to get us to this point.”
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