CHERRIES boss Sean O'Driscoll hailed his side as "magnificent" and "different class" following their 1-0 defeat at League One leaders Luton Town on August 30.

Kevin Nicholls's late winner denied injury-ravaged Cherries a share of the spoils as the Hatters maintained their 100 per cent record.

O'Driscoll said: "We were playing the best side I have seen this season and I thought we were magnificent.

"I thought we did our homework and frustrated them. We stopped (Steve) Howard from playing and you can't ask for any more.

"I would have settled for 0-0, a clean sheet and a point away from home with the side we had to put out and if the free kick (by Brian Stock) had gone in then it would have been interesting.

"But credit to Luton, they kept going and are a side full of confidence and on a roll. If you believe you are going to win then nine times out of 10, you do."

Commenting on Nicholls's long-range winner, O'Driscoll added: "He bent it like a banana. It went from the outside of the post into the bottom corner. It was a great strike from a great player."

Cherries goalkeeper Neil Moss kept the Hatters at bay with a number of important saves until he was finally beaten by Nicholls's stunning strike late on.

Moss told the Daily Echo: "We defended very well. They are a physical side and probably the best team in the division.

"We thought we had held on to the 0-0 and we also had chances to win it ourselves, but, in the end, it took a wonder goal to beat us.

"We can take heart from the performance and the fact we've put a good run together. The manager came into the dressing room and said he thought we had been different class.

"We performed well and had our chances. We could have been one or two up before they scored, but it wasn't to be and it took a very good side to beat us.