GARY O’Neil gushed over Jefferson Lerma’s contributions to Cherries’ survival bid, stating that the combative midfielder’s performances played a “big part” in the side reaching 39 points.

Lerma was the star turn as Cherries effectively cemented their Premier League status with a 4-1 victory over struggling Leeds United, the Colombian firing in two goals in four minutes to set his team on their way to victory.

Leeds’ Patrick Bamford temporarily halved the deficit, before Dominic Solanke and Antoine Semenyo made sure of the result in the second period.

Both of the 28-year-old’s goals were finely taken, the first a curling effort to send a rebound into the top right corner, his second smashed into the roof of the net.

Speaking about his midfielder’s goals, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “He has some calmness in front of goal. Look back to the goal he scored at Fulham as well, away from home, passes it in the corner.”

“It was a great finish. Jeff’s been very important to us.

“Not known for his goals but more his commitment to everything you ask him to do.

“Tactically very intelligent as well. Jeff’s had a real good season so far, and a big part of the reason why we’re on 39 points.”

Former Levante man Lerma has missed just 165 minutes of Premier League action this season for Cherries, playing 2,895 minutes of an available 3060.

The entirety of the Cherries team were asked to dig deep in the past week, with O’Neil making minimal changes despite a run of three games in eight days.

“I was a bit worried about (Sunday) because of that really,” O’Neil commented on the short turn around from Cherries’ win over Southampton on Thursday and their weekend victory against Leeds.

“I asked a lot of them on Thursday.

“We obviously built Thursday up to be a huge game, felt a little bit like a final, the nature of it for Southampton.

“So the physical effort that went in, but also the emotional drain it has on you.

“So to go Thursday and produce that, Leeds to have an extra couple of days and have to kick-off early on the Sunday here.

“I was just worried about energy levels and what we might start like.

“I just reminded them that we don’t accept any dip in our level.

“For whatever reason, I don’t care what it is, we do not accept any dip.

“I said 'we set ourselves a goal in August and it’s right at the end of this game for you if you want it enough, go and get it done today.'

“All of them, the lads that came on, the lads that started, they were all completely focused on achieving our goal.”