CHERRIES boss Scott Parker admitted “there was a lot there we need to improve on” following his side’s 1-1 draw at Millwall.

Dominic Solanke’s goal late in the first half gave the Dorset club the lead and appeared to be sending them back above Fulham at the top of the Championship pile.

But former Cherries striker Benik Afobe’s well-taken goal midway through the second half levelled the scores and ensured the spoils were shared.

Assessing the contest as a whole, Parker told the Daily Echo: “I think we started the game well.

“I thought Millwall came right out of the blocks and we’d have to weather it a little bit, which I thought we did. We did very well and then caused them some problems, we got our nose in front.

“Fair to say the second half was not the way we would have liked it. I felt we were just holding on for large parts of the second half and didn’t manage to do that really.

“We came out in the second half, we had a couple of moments on the break where I thought ‘a goal here’ was at a point. But after that we really struggled.

“They went from back-to-front pretty direct, full credit to them, they caused us a lot of problems with set-plays and long throws, we gave away a lot of free-kicks.

“The goal was poor on our behalf, one long ball from 40-odd yards. We didn’t really challenge the first one, they flick it on and the covering position is not great.”

Despite being pegged back at The Den, Cherries remain just one point behind Fulham at the summit of the league table.

Parker’s men are also eight points clear of third-placed West Brom in the automatic race for promotion.

“There was a lot there we need to improve on, definitely,” said Parker.

“I think in the end it was a big point for us. I thought there was only one team at the end that was going to win the game and that certainly wasn’t us I didn’t feel, so I think overall in the end it’s a well-earned point.

“We will look back on this and think it’s a good point gained.”

Cherries host Coventry City at Vitality Stadium on Saturday (3pm).