#PLStories- Gary O’Neil pleased with Cherries’ squad effort during ‘tough moment’ of the season #AFCB

GARY O’Neil admits Cherries are in a “tough moment”, but feels they were “unfortunate” to suffer defeat at Brentford. Since moving from interim to permanent head coach, O’Neil has presided over six defeats from six, the latest a 2-0 reverse at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday. Cherries went to Brentford already without Dominic Solanke, Ryan Fredericks, Junior Stanislas and David Brooks due to injury, as well as the suspended Adam Smith. That meant teenage trio Dominic Sadi, Michael Dacosta Gonzalez and Daniel Adu-Adjei were drafted in to make up the numbers on the bench, named in a Premier League matchday squad for the first time. Cherries were then dealt a further blow when Lewis Cook was forced off with a knee injury, with the scores level at 0-0. Brentford soon went in front, the hosts controversially awarded a penalty when Ivan Toney went over under Marcos Senesi’s challenge. Mathias Jensen then put the game to bed in the second half, leaving Cherries just one point outside of the relegation zone at the halfway mark of the Premier League season. “I thought the players were fully committed, gave everything, worked their socks off, right to the end,” O’Neil told the Daily Echo. “When we arrived in their final third, maybe lacked a little bit of quality and cutting edge, but created some decent opportunities. “I didn’t think there was much in the game, against a good side. “Obviously we’re in a bit of a tricky spot, with injuries and as you can see with the bench, we’re a bit short, some kids on there. “For a squad that is in a tough moment, I thought they gave everything, which is all you can ask.” Asked if it is tough to keep the heads of the players up when such efforts have gone unrewarded for six games on the spin, O’Neil added: “I think what I saw (on Saturday) is they’re fine. “They’re still fully committed. Obviously when you suffer a defeat, there’s a day or two where you feel a bit sorry for yourself. “But every time, by the next game, they look ready to go. “I thought they were ready to go on Saturday evening. Competed with Brentford, a physical side, direct, chuck the ball in your box a lot. “I didn’t think they looked like a side that were struggling to commit to what they were looking to achieve. “I thought they were unfortunate to come away with nothing. “Two-nil probably slightly flatters Brentford, obviously a goal on a counter-attack when we were in the ascendancy, probably against the run of play, and a scandalous penalty decision.”