Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Performance leaves Howe with mixed emotions
BOSS Eddie Howe admitted to Cherries' first-half failings but then praised the improved display that almost earned a point at stadium:mk.[LNB] Cherries fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of MK Dons today after goals from Lewis Guy and Mathias Doumbe sealed the verdict.[LNB] Guy struck after just six minutes as the Dean Court outfit struggled to find their feet early on.[LNB] With Steve Fletcher called from the bench on the half-hour, Howe's men rallied and could have snatched a positive result after a far better second-half performance.[LNB] Club captain Fletcher came closest to doing so when he saw a combination of Dons keeper David Martin and the crossbar somehow stop his header from finding the net.[LNB] Marc Pugh was also denied by Martin and, as Cherries pressed for the elusive equaliser, Doumbe struck for the hosts late on.[LNB] Howe said: The lads weren't happy with themselves at half-time.[LNB] We hadn't performed, we sat back and MK Dons kept the ball really well and looked a decent side.[LNB] We were disappointed with the goal we conceded so there were a number of things we weren't happy with.[LNB] But as unhappy as we were in the first half, we were pleased in the second because we dominated the game. On another day, we'd have come away with something.[LNB] We kept knocking on the door, we had a number of chances and their goalkeeper made a few good saves.[LNB] You just thought we're going to put one of these away'. But, unfortunately, we got done on the counter attack.[LNB] Howe had opted to hand a full debut to 18-year-old forward Danny Ings, but replaced the youth team graduate with Fletcher as Cherries struggled to get into the game.[LNB] The Cherries chief added: It was very difficult and it was nothing on Danny.[LNB] He deserved his chance because he has been excellent in training.[LNB] He's looked a real threat and he will be a really good player for us.[LNB] But I felt I had to change something. We were under the cosh and we needed an out-ball. Fletch came on and was excellent.[LNB] There were some good second-half performances from the lads. I thought Marvin Bartley ran the midfield in the second half.[LNB] There were a lot of positives to take and we need to regroup quickly because the games keep coming.[LNB]
