SHAUN Cooper believed Cherries' run in the Premier League Cup provided good opportunities for young talents after their cup journey came to an end with a 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest.

Goals on the stroke of half-time from Yassine En-Neyah and Jamie Ward put the hosts in control.

Late pressure from Cherries saw Scotland under-18 international Brennan Camp head home to set up a tense finale but Forest held on to book their place in the quarter-finals.

Cherries' starting XI at City Ground included seven players from Alan Connell's under-18s squad while Forest named internationals Ward and Liam Bridcutt in their side.

Coach Cooper told the Cherries website: "The lads tried to implement our game plan and things we had worked on in training and in patches we did it well.

"I'm just a bit disappointed in the lapse before half-time which meant we were 2-0 down at half-time and that was obviously crucial.

"But we finished strongly, Calum Ward made some outstanding saves to keep us in touching distance and in the end we had a right go and could have got a leveller.

"It's a great stadium to come to with lots of history, the lads were looking forward to playing here and the competition as a whole has been a good experience."