Howe has picked up the award for the first time in his career (Picture: Barclays Football/Premier League)

Eddie Howe has been named Premier League Manager of the Month for the first time after guiding his Bournemouth side to two wins and a draw in March.

The Cherries had been on the brink of a relegation battle but victories over West Ham and Swansea as well as a hard fought draw at Old Trafford mean they should stay up with ease.

‘It feels really good,’ Howe said when picking up the award.

‘It was such an important month for us.

‘The fact we were able to pick up seven points and go unbeaten means everything to us at this moment.’

Conte’s Chelsea side won both their games in March but he will have to wait to break the record (Picture: Getty Images)

Howe’s win means Antonio Conte will have to rely on a good month in April or May to see if he can win a record fourth award in a single season.

The Italian already holds the record for most months won in a row, having picked up the award in October, November and December.

Carlo Ancelotti (2010/11), Claudio Ranieri (2015/16) and Sir Alex Ferguson (2006/07) are the only other managers to have won it three times in a single campaign.

Six managers were included in the shortlist for this month’s award with Sam Allardyce, Jurgen Klopp, Mauricio Pochettino and Craig Shakespeare the others missing out.

Chelsea remaining fixtures

Sunderland (H) - Sun 21 May
Arsenal FA Cup (N) - Sat 27 May

The winner is picked by a combination of a public vote and a panel of experts.

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