MANAGER Eddie Howe explained his decision to replace Harry Wilson with Simon Francis after Cherries were left with 10 men against Norwich.

The boss was forced to reorganise his backline after Steve Cook was sent off by referee Paul Tierney for a bizarre deliberate handball.

That left the visitors, who went on to suffer a 1-0 defeat at Carrow Road, short of a centre-half after 34 minutes – meaning Liverpool loanee Wilson was forced to make way.

Asked about winger Wilson’s early exit, Howe replied: “Someone has to be sacrificed, because we can't play the game with one centre-back and a back four.

“Unfortunately, there’s a casualty and that happens there when there’s a red card.”

On the contest as a whole, Cherries’ fourth league defeat in a row, the boss added: “We stayed in the game probably for set plays and counter-attacks to tried to find a way to score and get the ball to bounce our way.

“We had a couple of moments there that were key.

“I think Dan Gosling’s chance was quite a big one and Callum (Wilson) slipped as he was going to finish and Nathan (Ake) had a chance.

“The moments were there for us and I think they haven't been there in recent weeks, so we will take that, but obviously hugely disappointed to lose.”