Midfielder Harry Arter believes Bournemouth need to remember what took them up to the Barclays Premier League in the first place as they aim to kickstart their faltering campaign.
The Cherries head into Saturday's televised lunchtime clash against Newcastle having not won in the league since mid-September, thrashed 5-1 by both Manchester City and Tottenham in successive matches before losing 2-0 at south coast rivals Southampton last weekend after going out of the Capital One Cup to Liverpool.
Eddie Howe's squad - depleted by injuries to the likes of captain Tommy Elphick, Tyrone Mings, Callum Wilson and Max Gradel - now sit just one point ahead of the 18th-placed Magpies, as the harsh reality of life among the elite clubs of English football starts to hit home.
However, Arter - now back in the squad following recovery from hip and groin problems which caused him to miss the start of the season - is confident Bournemouth have enough about them to come through the latest test of character.
"As much as it hurts, there is a kind of realisation that we knew we were not going to win as many games this year, so we half expected this feeling," said the Republic of Ireland midfielder, whose dynamic displays were key to the Cherries' Sky Bet Championship winning campaign.
"Now we need to use last season as a motivation, to know how good it feels to win.
"We need to make sure we are all united and not get on anyone's back if it has not been a good week.
"We just have to stick together and to our principles.
"We have to trust each other and ourselves, because it is no good going into games thinking you are not good enough and cannot get a result.
"We need to rebuild that self-belief again, and build it quick.
Artur went through a testing period as he worked his way back to full fitness following surgery in August, spending some time away from the south coast watching brother-in-law Scott Parker up at Fulham.
"It was more because of just wanting to go out there and play, and so the thought of missing out on the first games in the Premier League was tough," the 25-year-old Republic of Ireland international said.
"But I used it as motivation really to make sure I got back fit and then make sure I stayed there (in the team)."
Howe is certainly pleased to have Artur around again.
"Harry has given everyone a boost, he is a lively character in the squad, and we have missed that," the Bournemouth manager said.
"He will continue to improve with games, with the amount of time he has been out and I think there is more to come."
Source: PA-WIRE
