Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has insisted that he never had any doubts his side would return to their best form after thrashing Fulham 5-1 to reach the top of the Championship.

Brett Pitman and Matt Ritchie scored braces before Steve Cook completed an emphatic triumph late on, and Howe saluted his players for recording back-to-back victories after previously going five games without a win.

"I'm delighted with the win," the Cherries boss told reporters. "We felt it was going to be a difficult fixture when you see players Fulham have, but we started well, we were very positive, we scored at good times and could have scored more.

"During the five games we didn't win the performance levels were still strong. I didn't think there was anything wrong with the team and I think we have proved that. When we have that ruthlessness we are hard to stop.

"The lead has changed so many times it's almost become the tag no one wants. That's been the nature of it and it may stay that way until the end of the season, so back-to-back wins are so important."

Bournemouth could lose top spot on Saturday when Middlesbrough, Derby County and Watford all return to action.