Eddie Howe has spoken to the media following Saturday afternoon’s 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester United at Vitality Stadium.

Callum Wilson put the Cherries in front early on as AFC Bournemouth came flying out the blocks for the day’s lunchtime kick-off, but an Anthony Martial equaliser leveled the scoring going into the break.

Bournemouth desperately held on for the majority of the second half and might even have had more than a point from the game, but a devastating stoppage-time winner from Marcus Rashford left Eddie Howe’s side empty-handed.

During his post-match press conference, a dejected Eddie Howe talked over the following points.

The performance

It's a tough one for us today. I think a lot of the aspects of our game were really good, especially during the opening period. We passed the ball well and there was really good intensity to our play.

We were disappointed at half-time that we weren't winning and we felt that we deserved to be leading by more than one. We knew the second half was going to be a different game.

Manchester United changed things and made substitutions but I was pleased with my players attitudes to the game and they gave everything to the match.

It was one of the best first-half performances I've seen us have in the Premier League since being promoted. I can't fault anyone in terms of effort.

The opposition

Full credit to them for sticking in the game during the first period. It couldn't have been easy for them with the way that we played and how difficult it was to defend our attacking players. Some of our movement was second to none.

They stayed in the game and we're disappointed, especially with the first goal because that could have been avoided and has cost us the game.

You know they've got the capability to bring on players who can make a difference if they need to, but I believe we have the capability to do the same.