CHERRIES veteran Adam Smith has shared that there remains full confidence in head coach Andoni Iraola, stating that the side have "been here before".

A 3-0 defeat at Everton confirmed Cherries lowest points total from their first eight games of a Premier League season, Iraola yet to record a first league win since his appointment in June.

With just three points from the opening eight games of the season, some Cherries fans have started to question whether Iraola is still the man for the job.

That belief has not spread to the dressing room according to Smith.

"Yeah, of course we do," the stalwart told the Daily Echo when asked if the players believed in the style of play Iraola was asking of them.

"We've been here before, haven't we, last season.

"So we know what we have to do. It's just doing it and we have to do it quite quickly."

Smith also rejected the idea that his side were lacking in confidence, continuing: "It's nothing to do with confidence.

"We've made certain mistakes. We just make it harder for ourselves.

"Obviously disappointed. Just mistakes have made us go down 2-0 and then it's tough to get back in the game after that.

"When you're 2-0 down away from home at a place like this, it's really tough to get back in the game."

Asked if Cherries could take heart from the fact that it was largely individual mistakes that were costing the side and not systematical failure, Smith replied: "I know what you mean.

"But you still lose the game, don't you?

"Obviously if them two mistakes didn't happen then we're well in the game.

"But they did. So we've just got to try and cut these out and they give us a better chance of winning the game."

Defeat at Goodison represented Smith's first league start of the season, Cherries' longest-serving player missing the start of the season due to injury.

As one of the more experienced heads in a young-looking changing room, Smith has tried to help out his teammates whilst making his way back to full fitness.

"It's been tough, you know, just playing these big teams and not getting certain results.

"Obviously, I want to be out there performing with the team, but if I'm not, I'm still trying to support the younger lads to try and get a better result.

"Just really disappointed with (Everton defeat) and it's going to take a few days to get over it."