CHERRIES defender Chris Mepham insisted Burnley looked to “kill” any momentum in a game against them.

The Clarets came away from Vitality Stadium as 1-0 victors, thanks to Jay Rodriguez’s 89th-minute winner.

He bundled the ball into the bottom corner from an Ashley Westwood cross, to condemn Cherries to their sixth defeat in seven league games.

Mepham, who once again partnered Simon Francis in the heart of the hosts’ defence, told afcbTV: “Whenever you get momentum in a game, they look to kill it by making a cynical foul, being slow to take throw-ins, take set-pieces.

“We knew they would do that and it was difficult to get a foothold in the game.

“Worst case from that game we should have taken a 0-0. We would have been frustrated with that because we feel like we could have created more.

“If anyone deserved to come away with a point, it should have been us.”

Defeat was the third time on the spin the Lancashire outfit had taken three points from Vitality Stadium.

“We obviously knew they would come here to do a job on us,” said Mepham.

“Try a lot of long balls, a lot of aerial duels and battles all over the pitch.

“In fairness I thought we dealt with them well. Jeff (Lerma) for me in midfield was the standout in terms of picking up second balls.”

He added: “I compare this game to when I played them last season. It was very different for me personally.

“I think I dealt with it a lot better on Saturday, whereas the last game I struggled.

“It’s something I have made a conscious effort of in trying to improve on in training – a lot of aerial contact, defending crosses and stuff.

“I know it’s definitely an area where I’ve got a lot of improvement, which is why it’s a little bit frustrating to come away from the game conceding a goal from a cross.”