AFC Bournemouth’s Marcus Tavernier calls on side to get basics right
MARCUS Tavernier believes Cherries must get back to basics in order to return to winning ways, admitting that his side deserved to lose at Everton on Saturday.
Cherries’ sluggish start to the season continued on Merseyside as Tavernier and co. fell to a 3-0 defeat at Goodison Park, goals from James Garner, Jack Harrison, and Abdoulaye Doucoure more than enough for the Toffees to secure a first home win of the campaign.
It now means Cherries are without a win in their opening eight league fixtures, with their last triumph in the top flight coming at the end of April, a 4-1 victory over Leeds followed by 12 winless matches.
READ MORE: Speculative reports link Cherries boss Iraola to Sevilla vacancy
Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal was rarely troubled during the contest, with Tavernier well aware that his side had been below standard.
Speaking after the game, Tavernier told the Daily Echo: “I feel like we were nowhere near our levels and it showed on the pitch.
“I mean, it just wasn’t good enough. Simple as that, really.
“It was the basics that we didn’t get right.
“And that’s what you’ve got to do to win games of football.
“You’ve got to do the basics right.
“Then that allows you to go and do the other things.
“But we didn’t get that right and it cost us and proved us to lose 3-0.”
With Cherries now second from bottom heading into the international break, the 24-year-old called upon his teammates to use the two-week gap in fixtures to regroup ahead of the visit of Gary O’Neil’s Wolves.
Asked if such a heavy defeat at the hands of a fellow struggling side impacted the side’s mood, Tavernier replied: “It doesn’t knock our confidence.
“I mean, we take each game at a time. (Everton was) a big defeat.
“We came into this game looking for our first win of the season, but we weren’t good enough and we didn’t deserve to win.
“So we have to now regroup over the international break and get back to doing what we’re good at.
“Get the basics right and then start winning games again.”
Tavernier started the game on the right-hand side, before being deployed as a left-back after Milos Kerkez tired and had to be replaced.
The former Middlesbrough man previously operated as a left wing-back during his time on Teesside.
“I can play anywhere,” Tavernier explained.
“Wherever the manager wants me to play, I’ll play there.
“I’ll do my all for my team. So I feel comfortable playing there as well.”
Leave a Reply