BOSS Eddie Howe called for Cherries to “tighten up” defensively following their 2-2 draw with West Ham and insisted: “We can’t have to score three to win.”

Goals from Joshua King and Callum Wilson had put the Dorset club in the box seat at Vitality Stadium, following Andriy Yarmolenko’s 10th minute opener for the Irons.

Callum Wilson then had a golden chance to make it 3-1 on 73 minutes when he was slipped through by Harry Wilson – only for substitute goalkeeper Roberto to make a sharp save.

And just a minute later, Aaron Cresswell slotted home a leveller for the Hammers to ensure the spoils were shared.

Howe said: “For the neutral they’d have loved it, I’m sure. It was end-to-end, very open. For the respective managers, I think probably not so easy to watch.

“We had a slow start and were a little bit lethargic out of the traps.

“We showed really good character to stay in the game and fight our way back. We obviously fought our way back so well we found ourselves 2-1 ahead.

“That was the key spell in the game. Could we get the two-goal cushion? We didn’t and that let West Ham back in to get a point.”

Quizzed on the key opportunity for Callum Wilson at 2-1, Howe replied: “It was a good chance, a really good team move.

“My only thought at the time was could he square it to maybe Joshua (King) or Harry Wilson who was running in? Which would have been the easier thing to do.

“He’s taken it on, he’s in a confident mood and the goalkeeper’s made a good save. It doesn’t mean we have to concede at the other end.

“That’s not an excuse for conceding two goals, we have to look at that and have to tighten up in that respect because we can’t have to score three to win.”