HOWE’S BIG DAY RUINED BY LIONS
EDDIE Howe admitted he felt like he was on the losing side as his 300th game in management was ruined by two late Millwall strikes.
The hosts were cruising after Steve Cook and Brett Pitman fired them into a 2-0 half-time lead, but a gutsy late fightback saw goals from Ed Upson and substitute Magaye Gueye rescue a point for Millwall.
And Howe feels it really was a game of two halves.
He said: “First half I was very pleased. We played some good football, scored some good goals, could have scored more and were in total control.
“A third goal would have obviously killed the game, but for whatever reason we just stopped doing all the good things we had done and fell into a trap of poor decision-making.
“We were playing Millwall and you know Millwall never give up. It was hugely frustrating the way we managed the game and the way we performed in the second half because we are a lot better than that.
“We have to keep some perspective and look at the bigger picture. It’s not a defeat, although it feels like it.”
After a quiet start, the Cherries suddenly burst into life. The deadlock was broken when Andrew Surman danced beyond two challenges before clipping the ball to the back post where Cook found space to direct a header back across goal and beyond David Forde.
And within the blink of an eye, the lead was doubled. A lively Matt Ritchie picked out a slide rule pass for Pitman to bury his fifth league goal of the season.
Ian Holloway introduced Ricardo Fuller at the break and switched to a more offensive formation and it almost paid dividends as Martyn Woolford headed wide before Artur Boruc tipped over a fierce Alan Dunne effort.
The visitors’ persistence finally paid off when Upson snuck in to meet a Jermaine Easter cross, beating Simon Francis to the ball and heading into the bottom corner.
But the Cherries carved out a gilt-edged chance to seal all three points on the counter attack as both Pitman and Junior Stanislas bore down on Forde’s goal, but the latter strayed offside before rolling the ball into the net.
Millwall’s belief began to grow and, having just seen Charlie Daniels deflect an effort on to his own crossbar, the Lions snatched a point when Gueye rattled in from close range after Lee Gregory’s effort was blocked.
And Holloway believes his side were more than good value for their point.
He said:“We knew how tough it was going to be but I didn’t expect to be 2-0 down and by the end of the first half it could have been one or two more.
“I’m really pleased for the lads that they’ve got something out of it, if we’d have lost that game it wouldn’t have been fair I don’t think on balance.
“We competed really well in that game as we did last week.
“I believe in what we’re doing and I think we don’t look bad at times.
“Coming from 2-0 down took some skill, some belief, some teamwork, some organisation and some character to do that.”
Bournemouth tried to push for a dramatic winner but to no avail as they missed the chance to go top of the Championship table.
But Holloway feels there is not much between the leading sides and those at the foot of the Championship table.
He added:“What a wonderful division. I’d say it’s very, very even.
“Everybody’s going for the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory golden ticket. They all want that Premier League place, every one of them.”