Groves: We had the better chances on the night

AFC Bournemouth manager Paul Groves felt his side had enough to edge an entertaining game at Dean Court on Tuesday night.

The Cherries started well against Brentford, with a much higher tempo and immediately looked more of a threat in front of goal in comparison to Saturday's fixture against Hartlepool.

However the defence also looked far less solid, with Brentford having a couple of decent chances, before a defensive mix up saw Simon Francis credited with an own goal.

The Cherries heads only momentarily dropped and the more positive and direct attacking play saw the home side get back on level terms when Matt Tubbs scored his second goal in two games with a well taken header, before Charlie Daniels converted a penalty to put the home side in front before the break.

But it was the away side who looked the more threatening during the second half, with the Cherries restricted to a more counter attacking system.

With AFC Bournemouth's diamond formation attempting to control the centre of the park, Brentford opted for wing play, using the space to good affect and this was where the equaliser came from.

The Cherries still had chances to take all three points. Matt Tubbs missed a great one on one chance, while Joe Partington's curling effort hit the inside of the post.

Groves told afcb.co.uk...

"I felt we created the better chances on the night against one of the better teams that we have played against this season. We were dominant in the first half and really pushed them back."

"We did fashion a lot of good opportunities, enough really to have won the game. We showed good character to overcome the loss of an early goal to go ahead, but it`s always disappointing not to win when you are leading. We did have the chances to go further ahead and also to retake the lead, but you have to be taking them...'

'...Overall some of the play, particularly in the first half, was very good. If we play like that consistently and create that amount of chances, then you will win more games that you don`t. We need to make sure we start keeping clean sheets, because when we create the chances like we did, we need to be winning games."

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