BOSS Eddie Howe admitted to having mixed feelings following Cherries' 2-2 draw at Huddersfield on Saturday. Howe praised his players for their character and powers of recovery after they came from behind to claim a share of the spoils at the Galpharm Stadium. But he was also left to rue a brief spell before and after half-time when Cherries surrendered the lead by conceding twice in the space of three minutes. Howe looked on as Josh McQuoid's 32nd-minute opener his fourth goal in three games handed Cherries the lead during an opening period dominated by the visitors. But Antony Kay's header and a Gary Roberts penalty either side of the break saw the Terriers edge ahead before Marc Pugh nodded home an equaliser 11 minutes from time. Howe said: The lads showed great character to come back and it was a really good response from them. I think the display was more evidence to the players that we are a good side. It wasn't just the result but the manner in which it came about. Without being disrespectful to Huddersfield, we played all the football. We played from back to front, which is sometimes the hardest way to play, and I was delighted with how the players performed and acquitted themselves. Kay levelled in first-half stoppage-time when he powered a header past Shwan Jalal from a Roberts corner, only the third time Cherries had conceded from a flag kick in more than a 12 months. Howe added: We only conceded twice from set-plays last season but we had more height in the side. Where we have lost that edge from set-plays, we have perhaps gained it in different areas. But it's still something we need to improve on. When you dominate games, sometimes the opposition's only route is a set-play and they punished us. We have noticed a difference in height coming up a division and have got to defend set-plays better because they are so important and will cost you if you don't defend them correctly.
Source: Bournemouth_Echo