SOUTHAMPTON boss Alan Pardew admitted Eddie Howe had outwitted him tactically and also told his players they had been embarrassed by Cherries.

Pardew’s men were put to the sword for long periods during the first half of last night’s Carling Cup tie and were booed off by sections of the St Mary’s crowd at half-time.

An improved second-half display saw them progress thanks to late goals from one-time Cherries centre of excellence pupil Adam Lallana and teenager Alex Chamberlain.

Pardew said: “Bournemouth were terrific – their team, their manager and their supporters. Their system confused me and their players confused me with their outstanding play. Their fans were a credit to the club. It was a great night for Bournemouth without getting the result.”

Asked what he had said to his players at half-time, Pardew replied: “I said that we were playing perhaps at 95 per cent and they were playing at 110 per cent. I told the players that they were embarrassing us. I said the crowd were affecting them and they were playing as individuals rather than as a team.”

Asked whether he felt Cherries could hold their own in League One, Pardew said: “For sure. The manager is up and coming and he’s got a young team who are vibrant and have energy. You have to suppress that and we didn’t do that in the first half but we did in the second.

“They showed what we’ve got to face this season. They played a level of football that might be slightly above their norm and that’s what we’re going to get every week because, when you are the favourites, everybody wants your scalp.”

Lallana, who still lives in Iford and watched Cherries during pre-season, said: “I grew up following them and they are a really good team. Eddie has done a marvellous job and I was really looking forward to the game. It was good to be on the winning side.

“They’ve got a good squad and they play good football. If they stick to that and do the right things, they’ve got every chance of staying in the division.

“Brett Pitman scored more than 20 goals for them last season so if everybody can chip in with goals around him, I’m sure they will be okay.”