NORWICH boss Daniel Farke hailed Cherries as one of the "top favourites" for promotion from the Championship after his side slipped to a narrow defeat at Vitality Stadium.

The Canaries were edged out 1-0 thanks to an Arnaut Danjuma strike from outside the box, but Farke feels his team deserved more from the contest.

He said: "Put the result aside, it was definitely our best performance of the season so far because we faced a side who are, for me, one the top four favourites for promotion in this league. A club who have spent several years in a row at Premier League level in a stylish and brilliant way.

"They had a home game and the starting line-up had around 1,000 Premier League appearances. To come here it was clear it would be a tough game I think.

"The first half was more or less level in general. I got the feeling we had a bit more control over the game but they had this one moment of quality in terms of cutting edge. We gave the ball away a bit riskily on the sidelines after a vertical pass and Danjuma had a brilliant touch, aside from the goal.

"It was not really possible to defend this touch because he went away from goal with his first touch and then the strike with his left foot from 25 yards out, exactly in the corner. You have to accept the quality of this player."

He added: "I think we a bit unlucky to be behind at half-time because it was a close game. I think we showed a great reaction in the second half.

"With all respect to Bournemouth, I felt just one team was playing and the other tried to survive this game.

"It was then difficult against a Bournemouth side who defended with a five-man formation plus three central midfielders in front of them."

Farke also admitted Danjuma's strike did not catch him by surprise.

The Norwich boss said: "We spoke a lot about Danjuma in the preparation for this game and that we have to make sure his quality won’t shine, because he’s on fire at the moment. Sadly, he proved me right in this situation."

Norwich had two strong shouts for penalties waved away in the second half.

Max Aarons went down under a challenge from Adam Smith, while later in the contest the ball struck Joshua King on the arm in the box, but referee James Linington waved both away.

Discussing the decisions, Farke commented: "The Max Aarons situation, it was anyhow an unnecessary tackle because Max’s first touch took him too far away for him to have a clear chance.

"Just because it was an unnecessary tackle, it was still a foul. If it was in the midfield it would have been a foul, why not then in the box? I can’t understand this.

"But even clearer was the handball after the corner kick. I think this is clear and obvious. If the referee was not in the right position to see this, or the linesman perhaps his view was hidden, I got the feeling everyone allowed in the stadium saw it was a clear handball."

He added: "I don’t blame them, perhaps they were at the wrong angle and the referee couldn’t guess.

"We are all human beings, even referees make mistakes. I don’t blame them. I’m pretty sure by VAR it would’ve been given.

"It’s clear when you face a top level side like Bournemouth, who in a home game, who are for me one of the top favourites for the title and you have at least one clear penalty situation against you, that football match is difficult to win.

"Last season we were blaming VAR a lot, this season we would wish it back if I’m honest.

"When you want to win a game at this level against another top class side everything has to come together. For us sadly we have to accept this moment of quality from Danjuma."