GARY O’Neil insists Cherries “work hard” at defending set-pieces, but admitted: “We’re not a huge team.” In O’Neil’s nine matches in charge as interim head coach, Cherries have conceded 12 goals. Nine of those have come directly from set-pieces – four from the penalty spot and five via corners. The other three saw Patson Daka and Che Adams net for Leicester and Southampton respectively, after Cherries failed to clear a cross into the box, with the only other open-play goal courtesy of Tottenham Hotspur’s Ryan Sessegnon on Saturday. Discussing Cherries’ struggles from set-pieces, after conceding from two corners late on to lose 3-2 to Spurs,
Gary O’Neil said: “We work hard at it. We’re not a huge team. I think, if you look at the match-ups in the penalty area there, Spurs were bigger than us. So defending set-plays is obviously tricky. Plus the quality of the delivery Spurs put in. But if we nail our detail and how we go about things, then we would’ve survived both. And there was a lot of set-plays (on Saturday). Spurs were putting a lot of pressure on. So, disappointed, but in open play, they didn’t create very much. I think we created more in open play than they did, so some positives. We need to be ready to go again now.”
With Neto injured, Mark Travers was called back into the side for his first appearance since August’s 9-0 loss at Liverpool. His part on Tottenham’s second goal was questioned, as he got caught in no man’s land before Davies got above Jordan Zemura to head home. But O’Neil refused to point the finger at the Republic of Ireland international. Asked if Cherries had missed Neto’s commanding presence in the box from set-pieces,
Gary O’Neil said: “No, I think there were a couple of things wrong with the set-play goals. I would never single anyone out for any sort of criticism. They gave me everything. Travs made some big saves. He looked competent in the goal there, so no issue with Trav whatsoever.”
