EDDIE Howe labelled Cherries’ gut-wrenching defeat to bottom side Norwich as “an opportunity lost”.

The Dorset club are now three points adrift of safety in the Premier League following a 1-0 setback at Carrow Road.

Teemu Pukki slotted home a 33rd-minute penalty for Daniel Farke’s men to settle the contest, after Steve Cook was sent off for deliberate handball.

Howe said: “We are well aware every game goes by is an opportunity lost – today was an opportunity lost but it’s gone and we have to focus on the next one.

“We have to stick together and we have to keep fighting. We have to turn the tide very quickly or we're going to run out of games.”

Cherries have now picked four points in 12 top-flight games after defeat against the Canaries, who are just three below them.

Howe added: “I didn't think there was a lot in it between the two teams, obviously the sending off, the penalty was a key moment in the game.

“We had our chances today which was a real positive because recently, we hadn't had those moments, but we couldn't take them.”

The Dorset club host Brighton at Vitality Stadium on Tuesday (7.30pm).