ANDREW Surman insists Cherries' new central midfield combination is on an upward curve and will further improve as a controlling force.

Surman has featured alongside Dan Gosling and Harry Arter in the past three Premier League games against Southampton, Newcastle and Swansea.

Arter had previously been sidelined by injury but since his return, Cherries have enjoyed greater possession in each of their November fixtures.

Gosling, meanwhile, has of late enjoyed arguably his best form in a Cherries shirt and finished off a fine team goal in the 2-2 draw at Swansea on Saturday.

Former Saints ace Surman told the Daily Echo: "Dan makes good runs into the box and is strong when he is driving forward with the ball. You want to play alongside good players and he is a good player.

"You don't mind giving him the ball as he will create something and he gets on the end of things as well. He always looks like scoring as he gets into good positions.

"I thought him and H played really well against Swansea.

"It's all about relationships on the pitch in every position. You have to make sure you have a good relationship with the players you are playing alongside.

"As a three, we have got to be a good unit and I thought against Swansea that we were, with and without the ball.

"Every game we play alongside each other, we learn and I think we are enjoying it.

"I think it's always easier to control a game when you have got an extra body in there. You have an extra pass you can play and without the ball you are not so spread across the pitch.

"We played five in midfield against Newcastle at home and that worked to our advantage as well.

"Sometimes you can think it's a 4-5-1 but it's not really. As long as you are positive then you will still create chances.

"We are defending on the front foot and pressing the play and attacking-wise we are getting numbers forward."

Ever-present in the Premier League this season, Surman feels his team-mates should remain upbeat on the basis of the outing in Wales, despite having been pegged back to 2-2 after taking an early two-goal lead.

"We have to stay positive because it was another game we dominated," he added.

"It was a similar feeling to the Newcastle game. Once again we performed really well and didn't get the result that we fully deserved.

"It was a shame that having scored two goals, we let the lead slip so quickly.

"We could have battened down the hatches and got to half-time at 2-0, or possibly even pushed for a third. We've got to learn from that."