ENES Unal said Cherries need to be “more killer” around the box, as he discussed his potential strike partnership with Dominic Solanke.

Unal came off the bench on Saturday to make his Cherries debut, but was unable to prevent a 3-1 defeat at Fulham.

The Turkey international was drafted in on transfer deadline day, as Kieffer Moore departed.

Discussing the loss at Craven Cottage, Unal told the Daily Echo: “Disappointing. We came here to win the game, get the three points and we couldn’t get it.

“When you don’t win, it is always disappointing.”

The opening goal came after a slip from Lewis Cook in the penalty area.

“Those things can happen in football,” insisted Unal.

“There have been more things in the game I think we need to correct and for sure we will correct. We need to be tougher. We need to win more duels and that’s what we are going to do.

“Second half we were much better in that aspect. You can say we dominated the game.

“Then we need to be more killer, because we had opportunities that were almost, almost, but we couldn’t make it.

“When you score that goal, it gives the fear to the opponents, it is always a nice thing. I think we could have turned the game around at that point.”

Cherries appeared to have got themselves back in the game having trailed 2-0 at half-time, Marcos Senesi brilliantly pulling a goal back soon after the break, only for Fulham to go straight down the other end and restore their two-goal cushion.

“I think we showed a great reaction after that,” said Unal.

“We had opportunities. I think we created enough to come back in the game, we just couldn’t finish it. We need to be more clinical.”

Asked what message Andoni Iraola gave him ahead of his introduction on 69 minutes, Unal said: “The aim was the same, the pressing and everything was the same.

“We just doubled the strikers, be close to Dom and do a little bit of the part of number 10 also.”

Iraola has made it clear he sees Unal as a number nine, the position monopolised by an in-form Solanke all season.

The Spaniard’s preferred formation has seen him operate with just one striker from the start, occasionally bringing a second off the bench.

Asked if he could see himself and Solanke forging a good partnership, or if he expects to play up front alone, Unal said: “In the last seven years I played in the system of two strikers.

“But I am just going to do whatever the gaffer asks me to do.

“I am just going to be ready for any moment. It can be one minute, two minutes, 90 minutes, 30 minutes, I am just going to be ready.”