Harry Redknapp left Bournemouth a disappointed man as he saw Rangers struggle against a 10-man Bournemouth.
After Harry Arter was dismissed for the home side on 68 minutes, even though Hoops threw the kitchen sink at the Cherries, only a Richard Dunne header off the line for the final act of a drab day looked as if it might earn a point.
There was plenty of huffing and puffing, but little guile reckoned Rs manager as the Cherries ran out 2-1 winners at the Goldsands Stadium.
He said: “I thought we should have shown a bit more imagination.
“After we scored a great goal through Armand Traore I thought we’d go on to win.
“But we lacked the imagination and were too predictable. We got on the overlap and kept crossing balls and they kept heading them away.
“You’re looking for a bit more from your flair players. You’re looking for a bit more from Junior (Hoilett) and Ravel (Morrison) – but they didn’t really do it.”
Traore missed the last 10 minutes after picking up a knock, but it was no surprise to his boss, who now has to patch up the side and prepare for an away trip to Blackburn on Tuesday.
“He always comes off. Getting Armand on for 90 minutes is a problem,” reckoned Harry. “When he was on he was fantastic and he and Junior had them on the rack, and I thought we started great for the first 25 minutes, and you couldn’t have picked a winner.”
Redknapp was cautious about the prospects of sub Charlie Austin making a second appearance at Ewood Park inside four minutes.
The manager added: “We’ve got to be careful with Charlie, whether I chance him again on Tuesday, I don’t know. But he’s the one guy who looks as if there’s a goal in him.”
