AFC Bournemouth
The Cherries were cruelly eliminated from the tournament in extra time after putting in a stellar performance in the 3-2 defeat.
Purches believes that the game was a great learning curve for his young squad and that they can take a lot from the narrow reverse.
READ THE MATCH REPORT FROM THE CHERRIES' DEFEAT AT TURF MOOR HERE.
“It was a big cup game for the players to prepare and gain experience from," he explained.
"It’s disappointing, of course, just as it is to lose any match. Especially one that we started so well and felt we could have gone on get a positive result.
"The lads showed a good work ethic to keep going into extra time, so to then go on and lose in the manner that we did is hard to take.
"It was a physically demanding game.
"But these are the kind of games the lads will have to get used to if they have aspirations of playing in the league, so again it’s something else to take forward and digest.
"It's an opportunity the lads have lost out on, to go and play at another big stadium but sometimes you learn more about yourself in defeat."
