O'Neil reveals why first team trio were rested

Cherries boss, Gary O’Neil, admitted that the omission of three of the club’s first team regulars was down to managing fitness after being dumped out of the FA Cup to Championship side Burnley.

Captain Lloyd Kelly, Wales international Chris Mepham and midfield general Jefferson Lerma were all absent from the starting 11 with the latter rested from the matchday squad entirely. Southampton loanee Jack Stephens, as well as summer recruit Joe Rothwell both made rare starts whilst Jordan Zemura returned to left back as the Cherries succumbed to a 4-2 defeat to Vincent Kompany’s side.

Speaking to the media after the game, the Cherries boss revealed why the trio were left out: “Lloyd has done three 90 minutes in eight days after being out for a very long time. We’ve given Jeff a rest, he has had a knee issue recently so Jeff's knee needed looking after this weekend and Meps had a tight hamstring at Man United.”

O’Neil was left deflated after the game with his team’s performance and the manner in which the goals were conceded, in particular the first.

“We took the game seriously and tried to show energy and endeavour at the start. We tried to create an energy and atmosphere and then we managed to pop the balloon ourselves with a ridiculous error for the first goal,” added the Bournemouth head coach.

By halftime the Cherries found themselves 3-1 down and Zemura and Rothwell found themselves victims of the team’s poor first half display alongside Marcos Senesi and where all hooked at the break.

Kelly was brought on during the interval to try and sure things up but found himself on the end of the fans displeasure as boos could be heard from certain pockets of the home fans when the captain was on the ball.

O’Neil stuck by his captain, however, and went on to defend the 24-year-old centre back.

He added: “I love Lloyd, he is a young defender who has good quality but we need to get the whole group back to where it was before the break."