GARY O’Neil explained his reasoning for his substitutions during Cherries’ 1-0 defeat to Brighton.

Kaoru Mitoma’s 87th minute header proved the difference between the two sides, with Cherries giving as good as they got throughout the game.

O’Neil handed debuts to two January signings, with Antoine Semenyo and Hamed Traore thrust into the starting line-up at the Amex.

Traore impressed throughout the first half, before fading slightly at the start of the second period.

Seeing this, O’Neil replaced the attacking midfielder with Ryan Christie.

O’Neil shared: “I thought he (Traore) started to look tired.

“He played last Sunday and had one session on Thursday. We’ve got enough injury issues without risking people so I felt fresh legs were needed. He did well but I felt he started to fade a little bit.”

There was a further debut for Matias Vina, who replaced Jaidon Anthony late on in what seemed to be a move to preserve Cherries’ clean sheet, Vina slotting in at left centre-back.

O’Neil denied the change as tactical, instead insisting that Vina’s introduction was to freshen things up. He restarted: “No, I just think we have some options on the bench now.

“Jaidon did really well but 90 minutes of running up and down and you’ve some fresh legs on the bench, let’s get them on and use them.”