MANAGER Eddie Howe saw Cherries suffer a second successive defeat and then admitted Harry Arter’s sending off had “cost us”.

Arter saw red for a second booking just eight minutes before Michail Antonio netted the only goal of the game at London Stadium.

The midfielder was booked in the first half after showing dissent towards the assistant referee having been penalised for a handball.

And Arter received the third red card of his professional career for hauling back Cheikhou Kouyate as the Hammers looked to mount a counter-attack.

Antonio popped up at the far post to nod Gokhan Tore’s cross past Artur Boruc as the hosts celebrated victory in the first Premier League game at the venue of the 2012 Olympics.

Howe said: “It was hugely disappointing for us because there was nothing in the game and it was a very even contest and a game of few chances.

“Ultimately, I think the red card cost us the game. That’s the second time in two weeks that a mistake from us has inflicted a defeat on us.”

Howe was particularly unhappy with Arter’s first booking: “That was the one that has to disappoint us. The second one was for a foul and that can happen.

“The first one, we know the rules and have been well drilled. We are well aware that dissent and negative reactions to decisions will now be yellow cards and that is the one that burns with us tonight.

“The trouble is you can’t take time (to learn the new rules) because if we are, we are going to get red cards galore.

“We need to be very disciplined and keep 11 men on the pitch. I have drilled that into the players and it is unlike us to lose that discipline and, ultimately, it has cost us a valuable point.”

Asked whether it was something he would be addressing with his players, Howe replied: “I already have. I don’t know if I can do it any more. It is something we need to learn quickly with.”

Antonio’s late header settled a game of few chances in favour of the Hammers with home goalkeeper Adrian making two excellent saves to deny Joshua King in the second half.

Howe added: “I thought we defended our goal very well, especially when you consider they are a dangerous team. They have some dangerous players and are a big threat at set-plays.

“We stood up to the physical test very well. But the goal was a killer blow, especially as we had looked okay. One moment of quality from them and we were punished.

“Any goal you concede, you can look at. The disappointing thing for us was we allowed the ball to come into the box first and I think that is a dangerous thing against West Ham with the players they have.

“Both teams cancelled each other out. I didn’t think there was anything in it. I thought we had our best moments in the second half.

“I thought we looked a lot more positive, there was a lot more inter-play and we got in some really good positions that we should have done better with. Their goalkeeper made a couple of great saves to maintain their three points.”