Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Fletcher disheartened by manner of defeat
AGGRIEVED Steve Fletcher admitted the manner of Cherries' derby defeat was hard to accept but then gave credit to victors Southampton. The veteran targetman, on as a second-half substitute, was involved in two of the game's major talking points when he saw strong penalty appeals waved away by referee Kevin Wright. By that stage, Eddie Howe's men trailed 2-0 after Rickie Lambert twice expertly converted from 12 yards after the hosts were handed spot kicks. Fletcher felt he should have been given at least one penalty after tangling with Saints centre-half Jose Fonte and seeing another claim turned down when he went to ground inside the 18-yard box. Despite praising the performance of Southampton, Fletcher claimed the penalty given for a handball against Rhoys Wiggins was very harsh, with the second decision against Marvin Bartley even harsher. Fletcher told the Echo: It's disheartening to think you lose a derby match on two decisions like that. If they hadn't been given their penalties, I would still say my second one should have been a penalty the one where he (Fonte) had me practically in a headlock. The one just before that, it was a long throw from Danny Hollands and Hammond gave me a push in the back with two hands. Maybe because I'm a big lad and don't fall very gracefully, I probably didn't make the most of it, but it was still a foul. If he hadn't given the other two penalties I would have said okay, that's fair enough, you don't give that one'. But the second one with Fonte was a definite penalty. I do believe he was all over me, wouldn't let me head the ball and had me in a headlock. Asked for his assessment of the performance, Cherries' record appearance-maker added: I thought they played well. You've got to give credit to Southampton. I thought they passed it around well and played like they were full of confidence and a team near the top of the league, not near the bottom. The two penalties disheartened us and we didn't play as well as we can. Take the two penalties out of it and you never know what can happen. If Liam Feeney's effort that hit the post in the first minute had gone in, that's football, and it's a different game. But you've got to give Southampton a bit of credit because I thought they played very well on Saturday. The Echo was unable to ask the referee for a comment as a Southampton official said match officials do not usually talk to the media.