DEAN Smith took aim at Cherries’ ball boys for their performance after Aston Villa’s 2-1 defeat at Vitality Stadium.

The visiting boss insisted the youngsters “went missing” instead of getting the ball back in play after 55 minutes of the game against Eddie Howe’s men.

Goals from Philip Billing and Nathan Ake took the hosts into a 2-0 lead before Cherries midfielder Jefferson Lerma was sent off after 51 minutes.

Mbwana Samatta pulled a goal back for the Birmingham side with 20 minutes remaining but – despite having the extra man – Villa were left with nothing to show for their efforts.

And frustrated boss Smith was irked by an array of incidents he felt were key to his side’s downfall – including the recycling of the ball from pitch side.

He said: “They were better than us first half. The sending off changed it – we went and dominated the second half – could have scored another one.

“We could have had a penalty when Bjorn Engels got punched in the face after he headed the ball over.

“I don’t think VAR works for those ones – anywhere else on the pitch I think it’s a foul.

“Then we only got four minutes at the end, which is a bit of a gripe of mine.

“The ball boys went missing after 55 minutes and probably went and had a free pie.”

He added: “A few decisions cost us in the end to be honest.

“We weren’t good enough in the first half, the players knew that at half-time.

“I think Bournemouth wanted to play in our half, the goalkeeper went long every time he had it and we didn’t pick up enough second balls in the first half.

“For me, the second goal shouldn’t have stood because there should have been a free-kick on the edge of their box.

“There’s a clear push on Ezri Konsa when he’s mid-air and they go up the other end and score from the second phase.”

Defeat left Villa 17th in the table, one point and one place below Cherries.

"People keep talking about six points, they have only got three points for today's game," Smith said.

"We believe in the group we have got. It's just one game, we have a mini-break now and if we win when we come back we only get three points for that.

"There is a long way to go and to be honest, I didn't watch their (Cherries’) celebrations."