BOSS Eddie Howe admitted Cherries may have “got away with one” after Callum Wilson’s controversial late equaliser had earned them a 3-3 draw with West Ham.

Wilson was eventually credited with a stoppage-time leveller – which had initially been ruled out after assistant referee Simon Long had flagged for an infringement.

However, following a lengthy consultation between Long and referee Bobby Madley, the decision was overturned by the man in the middle and the goal stood.

While Wilson had appeared to be in an offside position when he applied the final touch, it also looked like the ball had struck his arm before crossing the line.

West Ham were understandably incensed with the reversal with their manager David Moyes saying he had been mystified at the decision.

Marko Arnautovic’s late double had looked set to condemn Cherries to defeat in what was an enthralling Boxing Day encounter.

Goals from Dan Gosling and Nathan Ake saw Cherries forge ahead following James Collins’s seventh-minute opener before Arnautovic scored twice in the closing nine minutes.

But Wilson’s dramatic late goal saw honours finish even.

Howe said: “I didn’t think it was going to be given because of the length of conversation between the referee and linesman. It looks like we might have got away with one there.

“I know it was difficult for West Ham to take but I thought it was what we had deserved on the balance of play.

“We were excellent and I was very pleased with the performance. We were more like ourselves in terms of creating chances and working their goalkeeper.

“We showed strength of character and the fight in the team was really strong so we were bitterly disappointed not to win because I felt we should have.”

Hammers boss David Moyes said: “I was disappointed with our defending in the first place. We didn't defend it well.

“But when the linesman’s flag went up, I thought “Oh, good. We’ve got out of jail there a little bit”.

“But then, for him to overrule the linesman’s decision, I couldn’t believe.

“I think you could question the offside, you could actually question whether the linesman’s decision to put his flag up was right or wrong because it looked pretty level.

“What you couldn’t do was question that the Bournemouth player put it in with the top of his arm so the goal should have been ruled out, one way or another.

“When I saw the commotion, I still thought there was no way he would overturn it.”

Asked what the referee had said to him regarding the decision, Moyes added: “I think he said that the linesman had put up his flag to draw attention to it.

“I thought “I’ve never heard of that, ever!”

“I wish I wasn't talking about referees. I think the referees in this country do a good job. It’s a tough game. But it was really costly for us in the end.”