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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Liam Wood

Bournemouth star sends clear warning to teammates before Manchester United fixture

Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly has issued a rallying call to his teammates before facing Manchester United at Old Trafford - urging them to be flexible enough to change their ways.

Despite finishing on a high-note before the World Cup break - with a 3-0 win over Everton - the Cherries have yet to score in three games (in all competitions) since their return to domestic matters. Back-to-back 2-0 defeats in the Premier League have also seen them slip closer to the drop zone.

Only two points separate Bournemouth from third-bottom Nottingham Forest after 17 matches, while the manner of their latest reverse to Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon led manager Gary O'Neil to label the performance as the "worst he has seen" since replacing Scott Parker as manager at the Vitality Stadium.

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Kelly, 24, agreed with O'Neil and has laid down the gauntlet to his teammates before they head to Old Trafford on Tuesday night (8pm). Speaking to the Daily Echo post-match, he said: "We'll use the next couple of days to evaluate where we are at the moment.

"We have to change some things asap to make sure we put in a performance that puts us in better positions to get results. I can't say anything different [than Bournemouth manager O'Neil].

"I'm sure the rest of the boys can't say anything different. We know where we have to play to be able to compete in the Premier League and that was nowhere near it."

Bournemouth have conceded a division-high 12 goals from set-piece situations this term. On that unwanted record, Kelly added: "I think it speaks for itself.

"We need to do more work on them. We have been doing work on them, but there's no excuses - it's down to us to put that into action during games and during crucial times in games."

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