MANAGER Eddie Howe defended Cherries’ game-management tactics after his players had been accused by Stoke boss Mark Hughes of time wasting.

Hughes, speaking to written and broadcast media at his post-match press conferences, was critical of Cherries’ approach during the second half of Saturday’s Premier League clash.

Trailing 2-1 after Mame Diouf’s 63rd-minute goal had halved Cherries’ lead, the Potters grew increasingly frustrated in their attempts to salvage a draw.

Hughes was visibly irate and appeared to make his feelings known to fourth official Jeremy Simpson, while he was also seen at one stage to give the hurry-up to a ball boy.

The Welshman said: “We were a little frustrated with their attitude to it in terms of killing the clock.

“I thought they did it from the first five minutes of the second half.

“They did exactly the same last year. They are very good at it.”

Referee Lee Probert showed just one yellow card – to Lewis Cook for a foul – and played five minutes of additional time at the end of the second half.

Responding to a question put by the Daily Echo, Howe said: “I don’t think my team did any differently to every other team that has come to our place and been leading with a spell of the game to go.

“It’s called game management, it’s called professionalism and making sure you are doing what is right for your team.

“I would have no hesitation in praising my team for how they managed that situation.

“There have been times, especially this season, when perhaps we haven’t managed certain situations as well as we could have, with Manchester City’s goal very late in the game being one.

“But it is about learning and growing. We had some young players on the pitch against Stoke and these experiences will only do them the world of good.”

Andrew Surman’s stunning opener and a Junior Stanislas penalty saw Cherries reach the break leading 2-0 before Diouf’s scruffy strike made for a tense second half for the visitors.

Asked by the Daily Echo whether he felt Cherries had been guilty of time wasting, Surman said: “I don’t know if we were running down the clock, we just wanted to set our own tempo.

“We weren’t necessarily trying to waste time, we were trying to slow the game so we could get up the pitch because we were camped in our own half for the second half.

“Sometimes, we were set to play and couldn’t so we had to try to get up the pitch and that can take time.

“Having said that, teams have done it to us. They have slowed the game and tried to stop us playing at a high tempo and we have been on the receiving end as well.”