Howe hails match-winner Defoe

A "relieved" Eddie Howe lauded Jermain Defoe's supreme finishing as the veteran striker helped to kick-start Bournemouth's season.

Defoe scored the Cherries' second goal during their 2-1 Premier League victory over Brighton to bring an end to their four-game losing start to the campaign. 

The England international scored his first goal for Bournemouth since a 3-3 draw at Reading on May 5, 2001, a game in which Howe featured at centre-back.

In the 16 years between his two Bournemouth goals, Defoe has transformed from a teenage talent to a 34-year-old expert poacher while Howe has moved into management, but the Bournemouth boss continues to be surprised by the striker's clinical nature in front of goal.

"He's one of the best finishers I've ever seen," said Howe. "When I was playing with him I couldn't believe how good he was, when we first started to introduce him into the team.

"And he's lost none of that. We've already seen it in training, just how sharp he is in front of goal. I'm very relieved by the win, I think that's the overriding emotion.

"It is pure relief. It feels like it's been longer than four games that we haven't won, because at the beginning of the season you're just desperate for a win and desperate to hit the ground running and that hasn't happened."

Howe firmly believes that Defoe can keep excelling at Premier League level after he fired Bournemouth to their first victory of the season, as long as his players can provide the right service. 

"We need to get to know as a team what Jermain wants, where he wants the ball," said Howe. "He's different from every other striker we have. And it's all about us creating more openings for him.

"We haven't created enough chances for him so far this season.

"He thrives on those openings. So our players have to learn the kind of runs he makes, learn what he wants and feed him more."