BOSS Jason Tindall described as "a real hard decision" leaving Chris Mepham out of his starting line-up to face Reading.

Tindall made just one change from the 3-1 win at Birmingham City before the international break, with Mepham dropping out in place of Steve Cook, who returned from suspension.

With Cherries trailing 2-0, Mepham was introduced at half-time in place of Diego Rico and helped the hosts turn the game around to win 4-2, a result which takes them up to second in the Championship table.

Asked how difficult it was to leave out Wales international Mepham from the start, Tindall told the Daily Echo: "It was a really tough decision for me.

"I spoke to Meps before the game and it was a real hard decision for me because I felt he was excellent against Birmingham, as he has been in all the games that he’s played for me.

"But I just felt with being away with Wales and unlike David (Brooks), he played two 90 minutes and his second game being on the Wednesday, which is obviously quite close to playing on Saturday.

"I learned my lesson from Jeff (Lerma). Jeff was in a similar situation previously when he played two games for Colombia and his game was on the Wednesday then and he ended up getting injured.

"So that was the reason that I made the decision, based on Meps not training with us since he’s been back."