BOSS Eddie Howe believes rediscovering their ruthless streak at both ends has been pivotal in Cherries’ upturn in fortunes.

Howe was speaking after Cherries had moved to within a point of the Championship play-off places following last night’s 3-0 win over Reading.

Callum Wilson’s opener was added to by Brett Pitman’s double as Cherries registered a third successive league win and a fifth in their past six games in all competitions.

The recent run had been preceded by a six-match winless sequence in the Championship which had seen Cherries concede 11 goals and claim just three points.

Howe said: “Earlier in the season, we were close to winning games as comfortably as we did against Reading but, for whatever reason, we didn’t quite put teams to bed. I am thinking of the Nottingham Forest, Rotherham and Leeds games which we should have won comfortably.

“I think the difference now is that we are a little more ruthless in defence, we got another clean sheet and the second goal against Reading, and when you get that it certainly makes things a little easier.

“The league table will make better reading than it did a few weeks ago but I think that can be a lesson for us because it can change as quickly for you as it can go against you if you don’t do the right things.

“A few weeks ago, we were desperate for a win and now we are on a really good run of form and want to try to keep it going for as long as we can. We need to make sure we keep working as hard as we can behind the scenes to make sure we maintain where we are.

“People may try to find magic formulas but they don’t really exist. It is about doing the hard work and the fundamentals all the time, even during your indifferent runs. Such small things make big differences in games and we have been on the right side of it in recent weeks. We need to make sure we continue to work on the small details, which are so important.”

Wilson broke the deadlock when he netted his ninth goal of the season after 50 minutes before two fine finishes from Pitman sealed victory for Cherries.

Howe added: “I don’t think anyone will want to recall too much about the first half. It was bitty and messy and the conditions played a huge part. We didn’t get our game going and neither team could say they had their normal rhythm.

“There is nothing worse than trying to play in the wind and it can really knock you out of your stride. Even the second half was a little bitty at times but we stepped it up and rediscovered our form and scored some good goals. It was good to see us return to form.”

Discussing the goals, Howe said: “Callum was in the right place when he needed to be for the first. It was a brilliant bit of wing play from Marc Pugh who dug out a cross on his left foot and that really got us going.

“Callum then slipped in Brett and it was a terrific finish, typical Brett Pitman, for his first and a real striker’s instinct for the second.

“All strikers thrive on goals and Brett has scored throughout his career. I spoke (in an interview published in Monday’s Daily Echo) about Brett’s team play and his work ethic and all the things that go unnoticed but he did what he needed to do and that is to score goals. When he got his big chance, it was a clinical finish so I was really pleased for him.”

Howe added: “Reading have some very good players and we can’t underestimate that. With success and when you get wins, people can get complacent but we certainly don’t. Every win is a real achievement at this level and to see off a top-quality side like Reading, with the players they have and to keep a clean sheet, certainly shows good signs for the future.”