Eddie Howe bemoans lack of “killer touch” from Cherries

Eddie-Howe-Bournemouth

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Eddie Howe felt that Bournemouth simply lacked a “killer touch” in front of goal in their defeat to Sunderland.

The Cherries led early in the Vitality Stadium clash through Dan Gosling but were pegged back before half-time by Victor Anichebe’s goal.

The Black Cats were reduced to ten men when Steven Pienaar was ordered off before the hour mark, allowing Bournemouth to enjoy a spell of intense pressure on the Sunderland goal.

They couldn’t find a second goal however, and were eventually undone when Anichebe was tripped in the penalty box allowing Jermain Defoe to net the winning goal from the penalty spot.

Howe felt his side were wasteful in front of goal, a far cry from the free-scoring nature they had shown last month in a 6-1 demolition of Hull City.

“We had enough chances,” Howe said. “In the last two games we’ve had gilt-edged chances. We get six against Hull and look free scoring and full of confidence, to creating a hatful of chances and not finishing them off.

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

The defeat leaves Bournemouth with 12 points from their first eleven game in the Premier League. Outside of the six-goal haul against Hull they have scored just seven times in ten games so far.

Howe knows that his side must start to finish their chances or they will face the consequences. “The red card swung the game in our favour.

We had a really good 15-minute spell after that where we battered their goal,” he added. “They couldn’t get out of their half and we couldn’t capitalise to get that killer touch we needed to win the game.”

Bournemouth are 3.00 to win their next game against Stoke. Mark Hughes’ side are 2.30 while the draw is 3.30.

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