HEAD coach Andoni Iraola refused to outright criticise referee Rebecca Welch after Cherries’ 1-1 draw at home to Nottingham Forest.

Both sides were left frustrated by constant fouls awarded by Welch, with Cherries incensed by a red card shown to midfielder Philip Billing late on.

Rather fittingly, both goals came from set-pieces, Cherries opening scores at a corner through Justin Kluivert before Callum Hudson-Odoi equalised following a free-kick.

31 fouls were blown for between both sides, leaving the ball out of play for most of proceedings.

Asked if the stop-start nature of the game impacted Cherries’ style of play, Iraola told the Daily Echo: “I would say for both teams it was difficult to get momentum because, I think there has been 30 something fouls, a lot of corners, throw ins, a lot of interruptions.

“Ball in play today has to be really low, I suppose.

“We didn't find the rhythm of the game, but I think they also didn't.

“It was a game decided by two set pieces because there were not very clear chances.”

Pressed for his opinion on the match official, Iraola continued: “I think it was different from the level of calling the fouls that we've experienced during the season.

“But I think Rebecca (Welch) had a very good game in the Cup against QPR.

“I think it was different today. The game was much more interrupted.

“I complained about the last corner, I didn't understand the reason not to take the last corner when the first half it happened opposite with much more time.

“But, we have to accept it.”

“I think there haven't been any difficult, difficult decisions to take,” Iraola continued when asked if he felt the game was difficult to referee.

“Probably the (amount) of fouls called was much, much higher than other games.

“I think there was 30 something fouls. Normally in the Premier League you don't arrive at 20 or something like this.

“So everything was much like stopped, you know, and even these small fouls can affect the result - it happened with the goal they scored.”