EDDIE Howe admitted his regret at making swingeing changes to his Cherries side for Saturday’s FA Cup humbling at Millwall – but insisted his hands were tied.

None of the players who started last Tuesday’s exhilarating 3-3 draw with Arsenal lined up for the clash in south London.

Nevertheless, Howe said he had “expected better” from his charges than the meek display that resulted in them being beaten 3-0 by the League One team.

“In hindsight, with the result, yes (I regret the changes),” he said.

“But – I’ve not been forced… but my hands are tied a little bit.

“We’re stretched in the sense that the Premier League is so demanding. We need our best players available for selection.”

A Cherries side that cost more than £40m didn’t register a shot on target at The Den, with Millwall good value for goals scored by Steve Morison, Shaun Cummings and Shane Ferguson.

And Howe wasn't prepared to search for something positive to glean from a wretched afternoon.

“I can’t disguise how I feel,” he said. “I can’t look for too many positives.

“I don’t think we turned up here and didn’t know what to expect, or that the players didn’t give their best. But it was a very difficult game to watch.

“It’s difficult to speak glowingly about people on the back of that performance.

“Last season and the season before we were very good in the cups.

“It’s a surprise that this year it hasn’t been the same.

“But I think a reason for that would be the number of summer signings we’ve made and put together in the team. They haven’t quite gelled.

“I expected that earlier in the season (when a much-changed side lost 3-2 to Preston in the EFL Cup). When you get to this point you’d have expected better cohesion from the team.”

Howe revealed Cherries are still waiting for permission to field Benik Afobe following the striker’s withdrawal from DR Congo’s Africa Cup of Nations squad.

And the manager claimed the injury suffered by Marc Wilson late in the game served to justify his decision to rest the bulk of his first-team mainstays.

“Marc Wilson has pulled his hamstring,” said Howe. “So we’re a body down, and if that had been a first-team regular for us that would have been really catastrophic.

“We’ve tried to protect the players we have fit. I have to do what is right for AFC Bournemouth.

“I wasn’t trying to disrespect the FA Cup or do anything that harms the game."

Jordon Ibe started his first match since November 5 at the weekend and Howe confessed he had anticipated the £15m winger making more of an impression during his first six months at Vitality Stadium.

“He hasn’t been a regular in the team so that would be a disappointment for him and for us,” said Howe.

“I still feel there’s a lot of potential in there. Obviously he has to fulfil that when he gets chances like today.”