Jonathan Woodgate praised his side’s fast start after Bournemouth thumped Coventry 4-1 to move into the Sky Bet Championship play-off places.
Arnaut Danjuma’s goal after just 24 seconds – the first of two for the Dutchman – set the tone for an impressive victory.
David Brooks and Dominic Solanke were also on target for the Cherries.
Woodgate said: “I thought we played really well. We played with a high intensity from the start and were difficult to play against.
“That is what I ask for; start quick and put the opposition on the back foot.
“Arnuat wanted to stay on to try and get his hat-trick but it’s the team that comes first. If something happened to him in the last five minutes I’d never forgive myself.
“He will have more opportunities in his career to score hat-tricks.
“It is all about attitude, application and mentality because the lad’s ability has never been in doubt.
“A 4-1 victory is a good result because Coventry are a decent team and should be higher in the table. We can get better but onto the next one.”
Woodgate’s in-form Cherries picked up their fourth straight league win with Matty James replying for the visitors.
Bournemouth knew a point would be enough to take them into the play-off places and got off to an electric start.
Wales winger Brooks burst down the right before drilling in a cross for Danjuma to tuck home his 12th goal of the season.
The Cherries had barely finishing celebrating when Coventry hit back with a goal of their own in the third minute.
Callum O’Hare was brought down 25 yards out and Leicester loanee James stepped up to pick out the corner with a sweetly-struck free-kick.
The Cherries were back in front in the 28th minute as Danjuma claimed his second goal of the afternoon.
Danjuma played a neat one-two with Philip Billing before squeezing his shot through the legs of Marko Marosi and into the far corner from a tight angle.
Coventry defender Josh Pask was carried off on a stretcher on the hour-mark following a nasty clash of heads with Billing.
That incident seemed to knock Mark Robins’s men off their stride and Brooks sealed the points with his fourth goals of the season in the 69th minute.
Danjuma had too much pace for Thompson before sending in a pin-point cross for Brooks to cushion beyond Marosi from close range.
Solanke completed the rout in stoppage time when he diverted substitute Ben Pearson’s cross into the net from point-blank range.
Robins said: “We were playing against a top team. If we were at full capacity, playing at top tilt it would still be a difficult game.
“As it is, we are playing with lads that are still learning the game and that makes a big difference.
“The biggest compliment I can pay the players is that they have tried to stick with them and tried to execute the game plan.
“A lot of the time they got it right but some of the time they got it wrong and then we were punished.
“I don’t know yet how Josh is. He is concussed certainly but hopefully he has not got any problems with his vertebrae.
“He was semi-conscious but has taken a whack on the back of his head. Hopefully it is not anything more serious.”
