SKIPPER Tommy Elphick said Cherries would take defeat on the chin and “learn from the experience” of their heavy beating at Vicarage Road.

The luckless defender saw his miserable start to the season continue when he was ruled out after sustaining an injury in Cherries’ final training session on the eve of the contest.

Elphick, who was named on the bench for Cherries’ opening-day victory over Charlton, had been due to start against the Hornets – in what would have been his full Championship debut.

He told the Daily Echo: “I trained on Friday and, towards the end of the session, I turned sharply and felt a pain in my back. I am not sure if it is a trapped nerve or I have twisted one of my ribs.

“It is just a case of getting some rest and trying to manipulate it. Hopefully, I will be okay to train on Tuesday. It is part and parcel of the game and my time will come. It is just a case of working hard and getting back to what I do best.”

Elphick, who watched events unfold from the dugout, added: “It was difficult. We had a game-plan and executed it very well in the first half when we were right in the game.

“Maybe there was a little bit of naivety in the second half because, when it goes to three or four, you really need to shut up shop and stop leaking goals.

“We didn’t manage to do that but I am sure we will learn from the experience.

“I thought there were a lot of positives to come out of the game. It was a very good first half and we were unfortunate not to come in leading 2-1 at half-time.

“Everybody just needs to remain focused and take the positives.

“We are a young team and people have got to remember that. For a lot of our players, this is the first season in the Championship and this was only our second game.

“It will be a massive learning curve and one we will learn from.”

Discussing Elphick’s enforced absence on Saturday, Cherries boss Eddie Howe said: “It changed what we were going to do but it happens all the time and you have to react. It was a disappointment for us.”

See all our pictures from Watford v AFC Bournemouth in a gallery here