CHERRIES’ star man Steve Cook was left to lament Michail Antonio’s late winner, describing his header as “a massive kick in the teeth”.

Antonio rose above Charlie Daniels at the far post to nod Gokhan Tore’s cross past Artur Boruc from close range five minutes from time.

It was a body blow to Cherries with Cook having turned in a commanding display at the heart of the defence in the first Premier League game at London Stadium.

“It was a massive kick in the teeth,” said Cook. “We had worked on defending crosses all week. We let that cross come in and then he was there at the back stick.

“We didn’t help out Smithy (Adam Smith) with the cross. He was one on one and then to have a free man at the back stick, that can't happen at any level."

Cherries were reduced to 10 men when Harry Arter saw red for collecting a second yellow card 13 minutes from time.

And in common with boss Eddie Howe, Cook felt the numerical disadvantage had had a major impact on the outcome of the contest.

He added: “The sending off was huge – it changed the game. I felt we were the stronger side in the second half so it was hard to take. I felt we were pushing to get the winner.

“Even to have kept a clean sheet would have been brilliant. We need to learn quickly. Two games and no points, it is very disappointing.”

Team-mate Daniels said: “It was there for the taking for us. I think you could see from the chances we created.

“We didn’t play as well as we know we can in the first half but we came in 0-0 at half-time knowing we could do a lot better.

“I thought we showed that in the second half when we had a couple of great chances that we have got to take if we are going to get points in this league.

“At the end, it was one of those things. It was a cross to the back stick, he climbed over us and scored. It was so late in the game and it was tough to take.

“We had a great chance at the end with Franno’s shot but it was a great save from the keeper. All in all, we were disappointed.”

Asked how much talk there had been about new rules regarding showing dissent to refereeing decisions, Daniels replied: “There has been a lot of talk about the new rules and it has been clamped into us.

"It was one of those things but I know Harry will learn from it and come back a better player and we will have to take it on the chin.”

Boss Eddie Howe, asked whether Andy Carroll’s absence had affected his preparations, said: “He is an obvious game-changer for them in terms of how they play with him in the team but it didn’t change anything from our perspective.

“The way we play with the ball is the same and we did well to a point but certainly lost our grip at times during the first half. We threatened to play very well early in the game and then just faded until half-time when we came out better.”