Soccer-Howe ready for Chelsea with renewed confidence

LONDON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Bournemouth face two fixtures against Chelsea in the next two months with manager Eddie Howe convinced his team have renewed self-belief, despite remaining in the bottom three of the Premier League.

They host the champions on Saturday and then visit them in the quarter-final of the League Cup in December.

After a slow start Bournemouth have picked up in the past week with wins away to Stoke City and then against Middlesbrough in the Cup.

"I'm very pleased with the last two results," Howe told a news conference on Friday.

"The Stoke game was a massive win for us. We were under no illusions about the importance of that game.

"We didn't want to become detached from the teams above us so that win was important to draw us closer to them.

"More important, it was about building the players' confidence and getting that good feeling back within the group that only winning can give you.

"There was a really good togetherness about the group and that has carried through this week."

Howe admitted being a little disappointed to be drawn away to Chelsea as Bournemouth attempt to reach a League Cup semi-final for the first time, but he is trying to make the best of it.

"It's not the cup draw we wanted, but we can't complain or moan. It's a great challenge to take on Chelsea in the quarters," he said.

"I've spoken to Antonio Conte. He's very passionate and knowledgeable. It's fascinating to talk football with him."

Chelsea have won three of the four meetings since Howe's team first reached the Premier League in 2015. (Reporting by Steve Tongue, editing by Pritha Sarkar)