EDDIE Howe agreed Cherries had been naive in certain games this season but said he expected them to become wiser for the experience.

Pundits on Match of the Day levelled the shortcoming at Howe’s team following their 5-1 defeat at Manchester City and after the 4-3 win at West Ham.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “I would probably agree and think it comes with the territory for us due to a lack of experience at this level. I don’t think we have been particularly good at managing some game situations.

“The second half of the West Ham game was hard to watch at times because we had been so dominant and should have been out of sight but suddenly we were clinging on to the win.

“In terms of Manchester City, I would probably agree again. I’ve got no problem handling the criticism. I will take that myself rather than aim it at the players.

“But certainly with the more experience we get and the more hardened we get to these situations, hopefully, we will lose that naivety.”

Asked whether he discouraged his players from watching Match of the Day, Howe replied: “It’s their choice. I can only influence what I do. I don’t watch it.

“It was the only thing I watched when I was a kid, now it’s the only thing I don’t watch on a Saturday night! You are living and feeling every second of the day so analysing our game and the next team we are playing is my only focus.”