INTERIM boss Gary O’Neil believed the circumstances behind Cherries’ 4-3 collapse at the hands of Leeds United was “completely different” to their defeat against Tottenham Hotspur last time out.

A chaotic game at Elland Road saw Cherries battle back from an early Rodrigo goal to go into the break 2-1 up thanks to goals from Marcus Tavernier and Philip Billing, before stretching their lead further shortly after the restart with Dominic Solanke’s dragged backheel finish.

The game then seesawed in Leeds’ favour, Sam Greenwood’s curled finish followed by Liam Cooper’s header at a corner.

Crysencio Summerville ensured the Whites’ comeback was completed in the 83rd minute, leaving Cherries pointless for a fourth game in a row.

Cherries became the first team in Premier League history to lose consecutive games after leading by two-goals, with today’s capitulation following another collapse at home to Spurs last weekend, Cherries contriving to lose 3-2 after leading 2-0.

When asked by the Daily Echo if that highlighted an issue in Cherries’ mentality, O’Neil responded: “It's not even a stat.

“I don't understand that, really. I think the two games are completely different.”

Pressed further, O’Neil attributed Cherries loss to “the boys not managing the situations well enough”.

“Leeds didn't cause us any problems,” he continued.

“Chucked balls in the box, hung a corner to the back post.

“If you can’t defend that, then you're going to get punished.

“So yeah, it boils down to real, real small details and that's not being good enough in those moments to see them off.”

Behind after just three minutes after Rodrigo converted a penalty, Cherries rallied to establish a 2-1 lead by the 19th minute via Tavernier and Billing goals.

Jefferson Lerma saw a header cleared off the line, before Kieffer Moore scuffed a gilt-edged chance, with O’Neil believing his side should have been well clear heading into the break.

He restarted: “It's a tough one today because we should have been further in front.

“We were the best team by far.

“Structurally we created loads and loads of chances and I felt like they were in complete control.

“Obviously the boy (Greenwood) scores a great goal, but even the build up to that, we don't defend the box well enough.

“From that moment, I still felt the boys were in control enough, to defend well enough, but still pose a threat.

“Obviously, a ball that is hung up to your back post from a corner, if you're going to concede goals like that, it's going to be really difficult to get anything from a football match.”