JASON Tindall defended his decision to drop Mark Travers against Middlesbrough, praising replacement Asmir Begovic's performance as "very good".

Travers started the opening Championship game of the season for Cherries against Blackburn, with Begovic absent from the squad due to a dead leg.

The Bosnian, who spent last season out on loan at Qarabag and AC Milan, then returned for Tuesday night's Carabao Cup success against Crystal Palace, making his first Cherries appearance for more than a year.

And he kept his place for Saturday's showdown at Riverside Stadium, with Travers on the bench for the 1-1 draw.

Asked if it was hard to tell Travers he was being left out of the side, Tindall told the Daily Echo: "No, it's not a tough conversation. I think whenever you're making changes to the team it's always difficult, it's never easy.

"But I feel I've got to pick what I feel is the best team to play in whatever game that is. I felt As was the right person to pick on Saturday and I felt his goalkeeping was very good."