Howe: Absentees not valid excuse for Cherries

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe insists the absence of Callum Wilson and Andrew Surman was certainly felt in their defeat to Sunderland.

Dan Gosling had given the Cherries an early lead before Victor Anichebe produced an unstoppable finish to draw the previously winless Sunderland level.

The Black Cats – who had Steven Pienaar sent off on the hour – rode their luck as Bournemouth piled on the pressure but Jermain Defoe’s penalty earned them an unlikely win.

Photo credit: Getty Images

And Howe, who saw his side hold 70 percent of possession and have 22 shots at goal, believes the win was there for the taking.

“Of course you will miss a player of Callum’s quality,” he said. “Andrew as well, he’s a key player for us and the control he gives us.

“They were both misses but that wasn’t the reason why we didn’t win, we have a good enough squad who still performed for the majority of the game.

“We had good passages of play but ultimately it wasn’t quite good enough.

“It was a hugely frustrating afternoon; we should have gone 2-0 ahead in the first-half as we had great opportunities.

“They couldn’t get out of their half and we couldn’t capitalise to get that killer touch we needed to win the game.”

After back to back defeats Howe admits a cutting edge in front of goal has certainly been an issue – although he knows it is something his side posses having put Hull to the sword earlier in the season.

“In the last two games we’ve had gilt-edged chances,” he added.

“We got six against Hull and look free scoring and full of confidence, to creating a hat full of chances and not finishing them off is disappointing.”