SCOTT Parker declared himself "pleased" with the way Cherries battled in the second half at the Etihad, insisting: "Man City away is not a game that will define our season."

Cherries fell to a resounding 4-0 loss at the home of the champions, trailing 3-0 at half-time to goals from Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden.

But Parker's charges dug in after the restart, only conceding again with 11 minutes to play, when Joao Cancelo's cross flew in off the heel of Jefferson Lerma.

Reflecting on the loss, Parker said: "This is not our league, Man City away is not a game that will define our season.

"This is a game we need to analyse, of course, and we’ll do that, work out where we can improve and get a little bit better. But we dust ourselves down and we go again now."

Discussing the side's fight and character at 3-0 down, Parker added: "I was very pleased with that. Three-nil at half-time, you guys are watching the game as well and there have been many teams here where you see the patterns of what happens in those games - 3-0, four, five, six, you’re playing against a team that can expose you at any moment and open that up.

"What that normally comes down to is probably quality, but a team losing heart and losing the will a little bit and before you know it, it becomes trickier.

"So I was pleased that the second half was what it was. Not pleased with the result, of course not, but at the same time, I understood what (Saturday) may look like."

Cherries now have a week to prepare for the visit of Arsenal to Vitality Stadium.

Mikel Arteta's Gunners have won both their opening Premier League fixtures so far, seeing off Crystal Palace and Leicester City.