Eddie Howe's pre-match message as alarming numbers emerge ahead of Chelsea trip

Eddie Howe has responded to concerns over our struggles in the final third ahead of today's trip to Chelsea, explaining why he expects the tide will turn soon despite another blank last weekend.

Last Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Brighton meant we've not scored from open play in our last six hours and 45 minutes of football in all competitions, with our only goals since Harvey Barnes' strike at Fulham coming from the spot via Anthony Gordon (1-1 vs Man City) and Fabian Schar (1-0 vs Wimbledon).

Howe accepts that it's a "difficult period", but is buoyed by the fact we are creating chances. "I always believe if you continue to create you will get your rewards" was a key message - and he's backing our "outstanding" attackers to deliver if we keep supplying the likes of Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon with opportunities.

"We are going through that spell where we are not scoring," Howe said. "That is always a difficult period for any team. The positive is we have been creating chances. We had the moments and maybe in previous games we haven't had those opportunities.

"I always believe if you continue to create you will get your rewards. And I think that is what we have to work towards. You trust the process if it's working and we're always trying to evolve on the football pitch, never trying to repeat what we're doing.

"There's always that view of how we can do things better. If you look at the last group of games, we've had varied success in different matches. In the Brighton game, I was pleased with the attacking output bar the finish or last parts.

"We should've scored, we haven't, and sometimes there's a reason for it but you have to back the players that we have to score goals and we've got some outstanding attacking players within our squad."

"We can't feel sorry for ourselves. We have to get on with it on the training ground and focus on those big games."