Under-18s boss James Lowy admitted the Cherries’ slow start put them on the back foot against Queens Park Rangers, as they succumbed to a 3-2 defeat at Canford Park Arena.
Jonny Day netted twice in the opening period for the hosts, responding to goals from Lorenzo Strachan and Emerson Sutton.
But the away side found their winner three minutes from time in the Professional Development League when substitute Tyler Young showed neat footwork in the box to slot home.
Lowy told afcb.co.uk: “The way we started the game I was disappointed in.
“I don’t think we showed enough intensity about ourselves in terms of just showing a bit of personality and a bit of character, which you really want to see from the boys.
“You want them to step onto a pitch and really make an impression and an impact. Unfortunately, the way we started, we didn’t do that enough.
“That then put us on the back foot and it was almost an uphill battle from there.”
After Strachan struck the opener on 22 minutes, Day offered a response for the home side – continuing his fine run of goalscoring form.
The 16-year-old latched on to a precise pass from Jack Holman and finished with aplomb to level up the game.
Sutton then struck just before the break for QPR but Day was at the double when he coolly slotted home, capping off a slick counter from Lowy’s side.
Ash Clarke, on his return to the side from a calf problem, drilled just wide in the second half after he was teed up by Harold William.
Young’s winner came before the visitors were reduced to 10 men in the latter stages. Anwar Montwafiq was shown his second booking for a foul.
“There were a couple of chances we missed in the second half which could have made a difference,” said Lowy.
“We lacked that cutting edge, with any final passes or shots on goal. We needed to be ruthless in those moments, which we weren’t unfortunately.”
AFC Bournemouth: Allan, Holman, Merritt, Ogunleye (Kasukumya, 79), William, Eagle (Redknapp, 56), Whitehead (Trialist, 56), Stevens (Clarke, 62), Day, Trialist, Trialist.
Unused sub: Seeley (g/k).
