GARY O’Neil revealed illness and unavailability within Cherries’ camp made preparing for Saturday’s game against Brentford “difficult”. Interim boss O’Neil is still unbeaten since taking the hotseat following Scott Parker’s departure in August. His fourth game in charge ended level after a drab 0-0 affair against Thomas Frank’s Bees at Vitality Stadium. The match came two weeks on from a 1-1 draw at Newcastle United, with various members of Cherries’ squad then heading off on international duty. Reflecting on the performance on Saturday,
Gary O’Neil said: “It’s the first time where I come away thinking we could’ve been better. Not from a mentality and an endeavour and relentlessness (perspective). I thought the boys gave everything again. Dom Solanke got cramp, he’d been ill in the week, so it was a tough one for him and he gave everything. Boys have been away. Jefferson Lerma arrives back from America really late on in the week. So it was a tough week to prep because there was loads to prep on Brentford and I’m sat here in Bournemouth ready to prep and loads of the players are not here. So it was a difficult week to prep for, but really proud of what they gave and similar to the fans, a little bit disappointed we couldn’t produce a bit more with the ball.”
Cherries are at home again this weekend, hosting Leicester City (3pm).
