JONATHAN Woodgate explained how he opted to match up to the Queens Park Rangers back three and added: “It was the right shape to play.”

The Cherries caretaker manager named Chris Mepham, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Lloyd Kelly as three centre-backs for the contest at Loftus Road.

Adam Smith and Junior Stanislas were the wing-backs on either side of the defensive unit – but Cherries slipped to a 2-1 defeat.

Woodgate had played a back four in each of his previous four games in charge, during which he had sealed three wins and a draw.

But, in a contest where Cherries had more shots and possession, the 41-year-old said switching to utilise three centre-backs was the right call.

He told the Daily Echo: “I thought we were very good and it was the right shape to play, without a question.

“Coming to this place, they play their formation really well - playing with a (back) three also – so we matched them up.

“But it was the right formation to play, there was no question about that.”

Shane Long equalised for Cherries in the second half against Mark Warburton’s R’s – cancelling out Stefan Johansen’s 58th-minute opener.

But Todd Kane struck the winner for the hosts seven minutes from time to leave Cherries eight points adrift of the top two in the Championship.