A satisfied Eddie Howe

Wasn't it great to hear Eddie Howe in the post match interview he did yesterday. You could sense that beam of a smile trying to sneak out under his cool match day face. It can't have been easy in the last week for him or the team, but I don't think any AFCB fan will be disappointed with how the team performed yesterday. It is for day like that we all so wanted to get promoted to the Championship.

Keeping a level head on matters - Eddie Howe.

Here are some of Eddie Howe's comments from yesterday after the game when he spoke to BBC Radio Solent.

"You would think that looking at that team today that they conceded six last week. But that's what football is like. We responded really well today. Today was a very, very difficult game. Wigan are a top side. You just have to look at the strength of their bench to see what a strong side they are going to be this year. So even at home, to win and to win well, because I don't think we were really tested. Our goalkeeper wasn't really tested with anything. We had to defend a lot of set plays but I'm really pleased with the lads today it's been a good start.

"I don't want to be entertained, I just want to sit and enjoy it from the football perspective. But there was a bit of everything, the sending off, the penalty and two teams going at it head-to-head. Two very good teams by the look of it I am really pleased that we kept a clean sheet after last week. I think that was a great response and a real mental test for the players and they came through it.

When asked about if he thought Bournemouth would regret missing the early chances they had to score and this missed penalty Eddie was realistic about this league. "I think that's the difference between the levels, the clinical finishing and we saw that at Watford last week. We had a few chances today and Lewis took one of them. The penalty was a big moment in the game and you wondered if we would rue that moment. It was a top save. But Lewis has scored four now and I'm really pleased with him, because his overall game deserves it and he looks a real threat.

"I am not sure if the penalty was inside or out side but it was certainly a foul. It it was inside then its a pen."

Regarding the sending off tackle, Howe said: "I thought it was high. It was a high tackle on Brett. In my opinion I thought it could be red. That was my initial thought and that's what it turned out to be. I understand why we all want to protect our players. We all want to get the majority of the decisions from their perspective but from my view I thought it was a red card.

Regarding Wigan going down to 10-men Howe didn't think it changed the game that much. "We were in defensive mode. You are protecting a one-nil lead against the FA Cup holders. Although they had a man sent off it did not really change the flow of the game. They have top quality players, a lot of Premier League players that have excelled at that level. So we knew it was going to be hard even with 10 men. That's why the lads deserve full credit because we saw it out and defended really well," Howe said.

"Our centre haves were excellent today. I thought they were solid. Not only that but Ian Harte has come in today for his full debut or league debut and he was excellent whoever he was up against, so a lot of positives from our perspective again. Hopefully it will give the lads even more confidence."

When asked about having his top two strikers available Eddie commented: "I am not too sure about saying our top two strikers. I don't look at it like that. I have decided tactically today to put Brett back in against their three in midfield, because he likes to play a little bit deeper. I was pleased with the pair of them because they worked really hard but I was pleased with Wes when he came on as well."

With 1200 miles to cover in away games in the next week it is a difficult period coming up but Eddie is aware of the challenges ahead. "It's a punishing schedule and when you play the northern clubs they are difficult games. And as you say we have three difficult away games and we want to come back with some more points. But this will certainly give us a boost going into them."

Concerning Charlie Daniels, Eddie was asked if he might be ready next week having been just the wrong side of 50:50 for the Wigan game but Eddie said he did not know. "He is a big player for us, but it is too early to say. We have got a few concerns and we would like to get everyone back fit, but all credit to the lads who are performing well at the moment."