Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has confessed that he was "concerned" by his team's performance during their 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace.

The Cherries coach said that his players were uncharacteristically poor in the Premier League showdown, particularly going forward.

"I thought we played with a lack of confidence today. We didn't hurt them enough. They got a lot of men behind the ball and it's up to us to find a way through," Howe told reporters.

"We didn't play well but we didn't look like we were going to concede. I don't think our problem was defensively today.

"Usually at home we have a spring in our step but that wasn't there today and that's concerning. We had some very good chances we didn't take, even though we played poorly."

Scott Dann gave Palace the lead early in the second half before Christian Benteke wrapped up the points in stoppage time.

Written by
Mark Langshaw