INTERIM boss Gary O'Neil says Mark Travers has "responded well" to the disappointment of being dropped for Wednesday night's clash with Wolves, adding how he "understood" the decision.

Having played second fiddle to the likes of Aaron Ramsdale and Asmir Begovic earlier in his Cherries career, goalkeeper Travers got his big break under Scott Parker last season.

The young Irishman played in all-but one of Cherries' 46 Championship fixtures, and was named as the club's player of the season after helping them clinch promotion to the Premier League.

Travers also won a host of other awards, including the Daily Echo/Micky Cave trophy, and the Championship's golden glove having kept the most clean sheets (20) in the division.

The 23-year-old was then rewarded with a new five-year contract over the summer, also taking the number one shirt for the first time.

He got off to the perfect start, with a clean sheet in victory over Aston Villa on the opening day this campaign. But Travers was then part of the side which conceded 16 goals in the next three Premier League fixtures, including Parker's final game in charge, the 9-0 humiliation at Liverpool last weekend.

That proved to be the end of Travers's consecutive run of starts, as one of four players dropped to the bench for O'Neil's first match as interim head coach in midweek.

While a lot of the blame in recent weeks could not be solely attributed to Republic of Ireland international Travers, O'Neil decided it was time to take the Maynooth-born ace out the firing line.

Experienced Brazilian Neto took the place of Travers, keeping a clean sheet in the 0-0 draw.

Asked how being the goalkeeper for such a heavy defeat had affected Travers, O'Neil told the Daily Echo: "After the 9-0, he was fine. I mean, it hits everyone losing 9-0, of course.

"But Trav no more than anybody else. I think everybody suffered in that moment at Anfield.

"He has responded well, training-wise. Obviously being left out is disappointing to every player.

"A goalkeeper always feels a little bit different because there is only one place to fight for.

"But he understood that I felt it was best for him and mainly the group. My main concern is the group.

"I felt it was best for the group at that time and that’s what my decisions will always be based upon."

Neto looks likely to keep his spot when Cherries head to Nottingham Forest for their next top-flight encounter tomorrow (3pm).

Discussing the former Barcelona man's Premier League debut against Wolves, O'Neil said: "He handled it well. He had some big moments in the game, he handled them well.

"Same as a lot of the players really, especially the defenders handled some big moments well.

"It’s nice when you feel that things do need shoring up a bit, to have some experienced boys around."