MARCUS Tavernier said a devastated Cherries side tried everything to equalise against Leicester City but that their finishing let them down as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat at the King Power Stadium.

Cherries trailed at halftime after a Facundo Buonanotte goal on 16 minutes.

Despite a more positive second half, hitting the woodwork twice and having a goal disallowed by VAR, they were unable to get the breakthrough and head into the international break on the back of a defeat.

Speaking after the game, the English midfielder said the Bournemouth squad must look at themselves as to blame for the result.

Tavernier told the Daily Echo: “I think we've got to look at ourselves and the way we performed today.

“We conceded a sloppy goal from our side, but on the attacking front, we weren't clinical enough in the box and that showed in the end of the game.

“We tried everything towards the end of the game, but it just wasn't enough today to grab anything from it.”

Tavernier played the full 90 against Leicester City, after Cherries beat Saints on Monday night last week.  (Image: Richard Crease) Asked what the instructions were from Andoni Iraola at halftime to prompt the improved second period, the 25-year-old said: “Just to be more aggressive front foot to try and make them play longer football so we could pick up the ball and then start playing ourselves.

“I think it worked in the second half, but it wasn't enough for us to get three points.

“So, we have to look at ourselves during the international break and work on some things to start putting the ball in the back of that, in those situations.”

On what Cherries need to work on to become more clinical, Tavernier said: “Just, you see our chances, they're coming from wide areas and it's just more players arriving in the box and making contact with the ball to try and work the keeper or create chances.

“It's just something that we need to do over the break, and I'm sure we will, so that when those chances come after it, we can put them away.”

Reflecting on the start of the season to this break, Tavernier said the club is where it is, and the league doesn’t lie.

“We've had some performances where we were unfortunate to not get any points, but at the same time, we've had some performances where we didn't deserve to get anything, and we have,” he said.

“We came off a good result against Southampton and we were desperate to get three points today and everyone in there is devastated.

“Especially now we've got to wait two weeks after going into international break to recharge and go again.

“So, we just have to focus on ourselves, dust ourselves down and focus on the upcoming games.”