CHERRIES boss Andoni Iraola felt his side were not aware that the “wind was so important” during their 2-1 defeat to Luton Town.

Marcus Tavernier had given Cherries a second-half lead but Iraola’s charges were unable to hang on, Luton coming back through Jordan Clark and Carlton Morris goals.

In the first half Cherries looked dangerous on the counter, constantly pouring forward in numbers.

However, they were often unable to find either the final ball or the finish touch, unable to muster a shot on target in the first 45 minutes.

At the start of the second half Cherries quickly found out that the wind was against them, a kick-off routine that saw the ball hoofed into the air and immediately fly back towards their own half.

And Basque boss Iraola felt his side should have recognised the importance of having the wind at their backs in the first period, also bemoaning a lack of ruthless edge.

He told the Daily Echo: “It's hard when you lose at the end.

“I think for first 60, 65 minutes probably we didn't realise until late that the wind was so important.

“And the second half it was very difficult to find the spaces we were finding.

“The first half we couldn't play long.

“We had to lose some territorial advantage, try to play more through the floor.

“We weren't as good.

“No, probably we should have been more ruthless in the first half with the chances we had, because afterwards it was difficult for us.”

Cherries remain 12th in the Premier League, with 41 points from 31 games.

They are next in action on Saturday, April 13, when they welcome Manchester United to Vitality Stadium in front of the television cameras (5.30pm).