WEST Brom boss Tony Pulis admitted he was surprised that Cherries midfielder Harry Arter had avoided a red card today.

Arter was booked in the second half for a fulsome challenge on Darren Fletcher but avoided punishment after shoving Gareth McAuley off the ball before the break.

"I think Harry Arter's a lucky boy tonight. His push in the first half was really a yellow card," said Pulis.

"The handball in the second half that stopped us from breaking was a yellow card and his tackle on Fletcher was a straight red card. But we finished the game 11 versus 11.

"I think we deserved to win the game, I thought the players' attitude was very good.

"We've not got the results we've deserved in the last five or six games, without a shadow of a doubt.

"And this was another game where I'm really disappointed for the players, because their attitude and application was very good.

"Obviously we needed Gards to score to make it 2-0, and if it goes to 2-0 I think we go on and comfortably win the game.

"We're disappointed but it never went our way, but that's nothing against our players. It's a boiling hot day and it would have been easy for the players to have their sandals on and they didn't. We worked hard."