ANDONI Iraola felt his Cherries side’s defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion came down to fine margins but that his team must improve after their finishing let them down.

AFC Bournemouth were beaten 2-1 by the Seagulls thanks to early goals in both halves, through Joao Pedro and Kaoru Mitoma.

David Brooks got one back for Bournemouth deep into stoppage time, after Brighton were reduced to ten men with half an hour to play, but weren’t able to find a late equaliser.

Speaking to the media after the game, Iraola said: “I think it has been a game of small margins.

“Probably now we will check the stats and in the stats, we will look better than them. But at the end they've made a difference because they've been more clinical.

“They scored at the beginning of both halves and even after we've had some chances, we had the disallowed goal. I want to see it, still I haven't seen the lines.

“After seeing the only line they put, for me, I don't see Justin in front of that blue line.

“Live, it looked like clear offside for me, but now I haven't seen the lines. Also the Mitoma goal, I want to see the red and the blue line, I haven't seen them or they are not available now.

“And yes, the crossbar at the end, like the other day in the 95th, 96th minute we could have taken, I think we should deserve more from today.

“But it has happened again. The other day against Brentford, we were talking about the same things. And when it happens at least two times in a row that you need to improve things.”

Asked about his side’s performances across the season, the Basque boss said: “I think we are being competitive in every game.

“I think most of our games, I would say, except probably two or three, we've had more chances than the opposition.

“But the reality is we don't have more points.

“So, we need to improve there in the boxes where the points are won, especially offensively.

“We've had the first one against one of Eva [Evanilson], another cutback in the second half, also the keeper has had a couple of very good saves.

“At the end, when they've arrived, they've punished us more.”

On the goals and if the defence could have done more, Iraola praised the Brighton finishes.

“I think it's a great strike [Joao Pedro’s goal], I think it's a great save [from Kepa],” he said.

“Probably it just exactly goes to the run of Joao Pedro. The timing, Milos was not very far or was more in the inside.

“I think you have to value also the ball striking before and also in the second goal is super, super tight, you know.

“And okay, you know that they are going to make this kind of runs with Mitoma. You are playing with this offside, no offside, but it's a lovely goal, lovely finish also.”

Up next for Bournemouth is a trip to Molineaux to face former manager Gary O’Neil’s Wolverhampton Wanderers.