GARY O’Neil says Cherries’ performance against Manchester United was “light years apart” from the one which his side produced at Crystal Palace last weekend.

Cherries fell to their third straight defeat this afternoon, losing 1-0 to an early Casemiro strike.

However, unlike the 2-0 defeat at Selhurst Park a week earlier, in which Cherries failed to register a shot on target, they did threaten to get something out of the game.

Substitute Kieffer Moore had the clearest chance, denied one-on-one by David de Gea in the final 10 minutes.

Asked for his assessment of his side’s display, boss O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I was pleased.

“I thought it was a good performance against obviously a very good Man United side, who are still pushing hard, desperate for points for the top four and have a cup final still at the end of the season, so they are full throttle at the moment.

“We were obviously under-strength, five key players missing, a little bit short today.

“So in comparison to Crystal Palace, light years apart. I thought it was a very competitive game.

“I didn’t think there was much in it. I thought our chances were probably equally as good as theirs.

“They managed to take one, we didn’t. It ends up 1-0, but I don’t think anyone could’ve complained if Kieffer Moore would’ve taken his chance at the end and the game finishes 1-1, I think it would’ve been a fair score-line.

“I’m proud of the players again, because it’s not easy once you’ve reached the top of the mountain like we did, to then have to go again and suffer against a good side without the ball sometimes, dig in, defend your goal and then show quality with the ball.

“I thought it was a good performance.”

Cherries round off their season at Everton next weekend.