BEN Pearson thinks Cherries “stood up well” to a tall and extremely direct Cardiff City team, insisting: “We knew it was going to be like that.”

The 26-year-old midfielder returned to the starting fold after a brief rest during the midweek fixture at home to QPR, playing a key role as Scott Parker’s side kept a clean sheet and earned a 1-0 win in South Wales.

Making only his third start of the Championship campaign, Ex-Manchester United youth man Pearson missed the first two fixtures of the season and was only selected from the off for a first time away at Hull City.

Jefferson Lerma provided the backbone while Pearson stitched together play between the defence and inter-linking Philip Billing, who went on to score the winner.

Each game in the Championship represents a different test and Pearson was up against men much bigger than he in the crucial midfield battles, but still came out on top where possible.

Speaking after the win, he said: “We stood up to them well, there was a lot of second balls, getting your foot on the ball and pounding it down, I think we stood it well.

“It’s been a squad game this season, we knew it was going to be like that playing against a team who like to put the ball in the box.

“I think we stood up to them well and showed a different side to our game which is nice, we’ve got a good football team.”

Something that was notable was Cherries leaving three attacking players up the pitch when Cardiff had set-piece situations like corners, deep free-kicks and throw-ins.

Pearson was one of those players tasked with standing up to the Cardiff defensive line and looking to stretch them as much as possible, while Dominic Solanke – who offers much more of a physical presence – would come back and assist the defence.

Pearson reveals that this was by design, adding: “They had a few giants so the plan was we thought we’d leave three up so they’d leave four back, then that limits the amount they can throw in the box.

“We looked to run off my shoulder which wasn’t the plan originally but no, we wanted to limit the amount they’d have in the box.

“I was hoping it would come to me but it never did, I don’t think I’m the man to have up there anyway really.”