GARY O'Neil says losing an individual duel was the key factor in Cherries' slow start against Aston Villa.

The hosts dominated possession in the early stages, breaking the deadlock when Leon Bailey's low cross was turned in by Douglas Luiz in the seventh minute.

Late goals from Jacob Ramsey and Emi Buendia saw Villa run out 3-0 victors, leaving Cherries in the relegation zone.

Asked if the sluggish start at Villa Park was down to a problem with the gameplan or individuals not successfully carrying out their tasks, O'Neil told the Daily Echo: "If you watch back the goal, we’re pressing and the midfielder manages to wriggle away from one of ours.

"If you lose a one v one duel like that, it obviously creates a situation and we don’t manage it well enough from that point."

He added: "But then the game looked exactly how we expected it to from that moment.

"We expected to be able to have the ball at times, expected to be able to hurt them in behind, tried to press when we could.

"So from their goal up until when we change and try and open it up and put a load of attacking players on the pitch.

"We were more than in the game, just really disappointed that it was a game that we were in and we don’t show enough to take anything from."