PHILIP Billing admits he "probably would have" been sent off against Aston Villa on Saturday had Eddie Howe not withdrawn him at half-time.

Cherries led 2-0 at the break at Villa Park, but home boss Dean Smith was left frustrated, insisting there was "no doubt" that Billing should have been shown a second yellow card.

The Dane was walking the disciplinary tightrope from the 36th minute after a clash with John McGinn, but avoided another booking despite committing numerous further fouls before being replaced by Andrew Surman.

And Billing had no complaints with being substituted.

Recalling his performance at Villa, the midfielder told the Daily Echo: "Some decisions I didn't think were fair and obviously I got booked.

"That's probably why I was a bit frustrated in that game, I'm going to admit that.

"I think the gaffer was right to take me off at half-time because I was on the edge of getting sent off.

"I think if I was to stay on, I probably would have (been sent off) because you can discuss if I was lucky to stay on in the first half."

He added: "But it's a game of football and it's an emotional game sometimes.

"Things happened and I just learn from this and what I can do next time, gain experience from it and next time I won't have a yellow and go into tackles.

"I want to make the manager believe that if I'm on a yellow, he can trust me to be on the pitch and doesn't have to worry about me getting sent off."