AFC Bournemouth
Gary O’Neil presided over his first defeat at interim head coach of AFC Bournemouth and was left to rue “fine margins at both ends”.
Che Adams scored the only goal as Southampton registered a 1-0 win at Vitality Stadium to end the Cherries’ six-match unbeaten run in the Premier League.
The hosts had chances to level and the visitors survived a loud penalty appeal after Mohammed Salisu handled a Junior Stanislas cross.
Speaking to the media at his post-match press conference, O’Neil said: “I was frustrated with the result, frustrated with the goal and pleased with large parts of the performance. It was fine margins at both ends.
“Che Adams took his header and we missed a couple of ours. We had a couple of good ones from corners. They cleared one off the line. It can go like that. Unless you’re the dominant team by miles, you can lose any game and we lost this one but there were still lots of positives.
“The way the game went it was never going to be clear chances because Southampton were deep. We had to try to work our way in, a few things fell to us, they blocked a few, we missed a few, one hit a hand.
“I stick to my words with the lads. I judge them on what they gave and the performance and we were competitive again.
“We can lose any game at this level, that is the way it is. I didn’t get carried away with the six because fine margins decide games. Did we deserve to lose this one? No, we didn’t but we did so we move on.
“I always move on. When people were getting excited about six unbeaten, it meant we had been competitive in every game.
“Were we competitive again this evening? Yes, we were. Some would say we were slightly more dominant than Southampton. We need to improve in certain areas but that will always be the case. We will re-set and get ready for Monday.”
Asked whether he felt the Cherries should have been awarded a penalty for Salisu’s handball, O’Neil replied: “I don’t know, I’m struggling to give an answer on it really.
“The ball hit Lloyd Kelly at Nottingham Forest and it was a penalty from a similar distance, the ball hit Jefferson Lerma at Newcastle and it was a penalty. Tonight, the ball hit Salisu and it wasn’t a penalty.
“It’s a tricky one. Hopefully, the officials can clear up what it is and what it isn’t because I don’t see too much difference.”
