Head Coach Scott Parker was left disappointed with the manner of performance in the 2-2 draw with Blackpool on Saturday but insists his team will improve going forward.
The youthful Cherries side opened up a healthy lead at Vitality Stadium through Dominic Solanke’s first-half double but goals by James Husband and Jerry Yates earned a draw for the visitors.
Parker told the assembled media: “I think it was probably a fair result in the scheme of things. I thought that the first 25-30 minutes were exceptional, 2-0 up and really in the ascendancy.
“Fair play to Blackpool, they did really well today and caused us problems in the second half. Overall, I’m disappointed because I felt like we could have and should have won the game.”
The Cherries head coach was confident that the squad would learn from this experience moving forward.
He said: “This is a young side, we all recognise that, these are experiences that some of our players are going through for the first time.
“There’s not many games where you’re in the driver’s seat and goals are going in, the ebbs and flows are that it changes and our mindset and the way we approach those moments are key and I didn’t feel we approached that too well.”
Parker also provided an update on Junior Stanislas’ fitness, having been withdrawn midway through the first half.
He revealed: “He’s felt his hamstring again, which is disappointing. I’m sad for Junior because obviously two weeks ago he’s felt his hamstring in the warm-up, we’ve tried to push and he’s tried to push and it’s probably a bit too early.
“I’m disappointed for him as he’s got big quality and I think we could see that while he was on the pitch today, he was involved in the first goal. Hopefully it’s not too bad and we can get him back.”
Parker told the media that he had no complaints about the penalty awarded against Zeno Ibsen Rossi in the second half but promised to support the young defender through the experience.
He said: “I’ve not seen it again, in real time it looked a bit of a penalty to me, Zeno’s got the wrong side and he’s tripped him up. No real complaints there.
“That’s what happens to every single player that plays the game, what brings you through those moments is experience of having those moments and knowing what you need to put in place and understanding what you need to do in those moments.
“Zeno has not had those moments, he’s working on instinct and sometimes there’s going to be flaws in that and it’s down to me and my staff to go over that with him and explain to him in those moments what he needs to do. That goes for a lot of the boys out there and we’ll do that.
“The boy’s got character, the boy’s got a lot in terms of that and that’s why he’s playing in the team and playing very well but like anything, young players in certain moments you need to help and I’ll help him.”
