Eddie Howe: 'Scoreline flatters Tottenham Hotspur'

Eddie Howe has claimed that Bournemouth did not deserve to lose by three goals in their home Premier League meeting with Tottenham Hotspur this evening.

The Cherries were level at the interval after Dele Alli cancelled out Junior Stanislas's early opener at the Vitality Stadium.

Spurs put the agony of exiting the Champions League in midweek behind them, though, by netting a further three times in the second period - two of those coming in the 87th minute onwards.

Speaking to Sky Sports News after the match, Bournemouth boss Howe admitted that the margin of the 4-1 defeat is particularly hard to accept.

"We competed, we gave everything into the match physically. We were well into it until that last period," he said. "The scoreline was flattering for them I feel.

"We started really well, we were on the front foot but they have quality and defensively we were always going to be stretched today. You have to give them credit for the way they came back.

"We started the second half really well, we tried to be on the front foot as best as we could. We need wins and we have a huge game coming up next week. I am proud of the players efforts today."

Bournemouth are six points clear of the dropzone ahead of the visit of West Bromwich Albion next weekend.