O'Driscoll, "We played like we know we can"

Sean O'Driscoll described the first half as poor as the team had played all season and was glad that the scores were still level at half time. He said that they needed some spark in the second half to get them going and that it came from kick-off. Once that came O'Driscoll said the team played like he knows they can.

O'Driscoll said, "I think the players were as frustrated as everybody else at half time and they were disappointed with the way they had performed and we didn't really change it that much. Without being complacent I felt we would always go on to win it by getting the first goal. They knew the things they had to do, but it just needed something to spark it up."

"That started from the kick-off in the second half when Chukki won a header and we were on our front foot from there. We then played like we know we can play. We're disappointed that they scored at the end, but we're glad it wasn't the first of the game or we'd have faced an uphill challenge like we have in previous games."

The good form of late has risen Bournemouth to eighth in division, but O'Driscoll still believes more needs to be done to aid the performances. He said, "The first half was probably as poor as we've played and it was good that we didn't go in behind. There are periods in the game where they play really well, but they're still not coming into games relaxed and thinking we're as good or better as anyone in this division. Despite the recent good results we've had, we're still not relaxed when going out on the field and by that I don't mean complacent."

Derek Holmes had to come off early in the game and O'Driscoll hopes to be able to book him for an operation at a time where he isn't needed so much. O'Driscoll said, "It makes it difficult when we lose Shaun [Maher] and Derek [Holmes] has to come off because his groin is too sore and we're down to the bones, let alone the bare bones. It was a good sign that we could cope physically without them. We're going to book Derek in for an operation and decide when we can afford to lose him."

The injury to Holmes did give Chukki Eribenne and extended chance in a game for the first time this season and he certainly took up the chance, putting in a man of the match display. O'Driscoll said that he deserved his chance. He added, "Chukki was given his chance and if anybody has watched him in training they would say he should be the first name on the team sheet. He's deserved his chance, but just needs a goal to settle him down and we always get 100% from him."

"Despite the small squad it was a difficult decision whether to bring him or James Hayter on. James is never going to let us down, but we had worked with Chukki in the week when Derek hasn't been playing and it gave us that aerial as well as some strength and I'm pleased for him."

The full interview will be available on Cherries World later today.