The 23-year-old marked his first start since recovering from a hamstring injury with the game’s only goal on Saturday, helping Cherries to their first win since November. Discussing Tavernier,
Gary O’Neil said: “I thought Tavs did well to get his goal, but I felt you could see that he’d been out for a while. I thought some of his decision making, understandably so, he’s been out for a very long time and the Premier League moves fast. So, yeah, some of his decision making, some of his ball handling, maybe wasn’t quite at the level that it was before the break. But delighted to get him back.”
Despite admitting his star was yet to reach full match fitness, O’Neil did credit Tavernier for making the required run to get on the end of Dominic Solanke’s cross.
Gary O Neil said: “We worked hard this week on trying to arrive (in attacking areas). That sort of half space run that Dom produced for the goal and making sure we arrive in the goal frame. And maybe some of our other wide players wouldn’t have arrived, or some of our midfield players would have been on the penalty spot looking for cutbacks, and Tavs fully commits, arrives in the penalty area. Tavs is a big player for us and big players sometimes come up with moments even when they’ve not been at their best.”
Tavernier was replaced after 57 minutes at the weekend with a complaint with his other hamstring, with O’Neil stating precautionary checks would be carried out ahead of Cherries game with Manchester City this weekend.
