CRYSTAL Palace boss Roy Hodgson described as a “very sad evening” his side’s 2-0 defeat to Cherries, adding: “We played against a better team.”

Goals from Marcos Senesi and Kieffer Moore earned Cherries victory at Selhurst Park, with the two clubs now locked on 16 points apiece in the Premier League table.

Reflecting on the result, Hodgson said: “I would sum it up as a very sad evening for us, because we came here with high expectations.

“We thought, after the game against West Ham (a 1-1 draw on Sunday), we’d turned a bit of a corner.

“We were rather hoping we’d carry that through and beat a Bournemouth team who, on paper and with regard to their league position, were very much available for us to win (against).

“But, of course, two things happened: first of all, they played very well and made life difficult for us, and secondly we weren’t able to play well enough on the evening.

“I’m just sad, really, that an opportunity to change our home form wasn’t taken, not because of a lack of effort, or a lack of desire, it wasn’t take because on the night we played against a better team and we couldn’t find a way to beat them.”