This season has been like a rollercoaster if, like me, you’re an AFC Bournemouth fan. Perhaps not the most intense of rollercoasters admittedly, but it’s been a pretty interesting ride nonetheless.

We looked safe from relegation for much of this campaign, but after a decidedly ropey January and February I was nervously looking over my shoulder. We were conceding bucket-loads and not scoring enough at the other end.

But which five results during this campaign were the most important in my eyes for us to achieve our current cushy mid-table finish? Well I’m glad you asked…

AFC Bournemouth 1 Everton 0 [24^th of September]

We started the season in poor form, and worst of all weren’t playing well. Lacking our usual attacking intensity, we’d managed to scab a measly four points together – largely because of a gruellingly narrow victory over West Bromich Albion. We had not yet put in a truly convincing display, and this was a cause of growing concern.

That was until Everton rolled into town in early September. Ronald Koeman’s side were unbeaten five games into the season, but we blew them away in the first half with timely pressing up the field and sharp attacking play. The Merseyside club had no answer.

We then locked down the win with a strong defensive display in the second half. It was a performance that showed that this team still had the hunger to compete at this level. It was a real AFC Bournemouth performance, and demonstrated that – unlike last season we were no longer a soft touch at home.

AFC Bournemouth 0 Tottenham Hotspur 0 [22nd of October]

Now, you might think that our win against Liverpool would be the best fixture to show how we coped with the top teams better this season than the last. But you would be wrong.

The win over Liverpool was loopily amazing, but this stalemate with Spurs showed our growing maturity at the top level. Tottenham did not have an off day, but we simply did not give them an inch. They struggled to break us down, and we often looked a threat going forward.

Compare that to the same fixture where we were 5-1 down after an hour. We have certainly come a long way in a year.

Stoke City 0 AFC Bournemouth 1 [24^th of November]

Not a result that perhaps stands out for many, but it was one of the few away wins we got all season (three in total). Our time-wasting and questionable gamesmanship to see the game out left Stoke boss Mark Hughes fuming, but certainly seemed to show that we had become a bit more savvy when playing games at the top table.

Things didn’t turn out that way sadly, as we capitulated numerous times this season on the road. Trips to Middlesbrough, Burnley, and Hull City yielded zero points for example. That made this rare three points away from Dean Court all the more valuable.

READ MORE: Players who just can’t stop getting relegated

READ MORE: Departing Chelsea captain John Terry considering retiring from football this summer

Manchester United 1 AFC Bournemouth 1 [4^th of March]

After establishing a comfortable mid-table position on the turn of the year many of our fans were enjoying watching games without the pressure of a relegation battle lurking in the background. Myself included.

How wrong we were. A terrible period starting from early January running all the way through to the end of February saw us gather just two points from a possible twenty-one.

Then we had a trip to Old Trafford. Which saw us play a whole half with only ten men. And we, somehow, didn’t lose. The commitment the team showed in this game would fire up the iciest of hearts. Without doubt this was the most important individual result for us all season. It felt like a turning point. And it was…

AFC Bournemouth 3 West Ham United 2 [11^th of March]

This was the game that followed up our courageous draw at Old Trafford, and showed that the team was truly ready to shrug off its slump in form and climb away from the relegation zone.

We didn’t make it easy for ourselves of course – missing two penalties and winning the game at the death – but we didn’t look back after our win over Slaven Bilic’s outfit. Eighteen points from thirty later and it’s bizarre to think the spectre of relegation loomed over us just over two months ago.