FORMER Cherries star Steve Robinson is tipping Richard Hughes to bounce back from his Britannia Stadium penalty nightmare.

Robinson was among the crowd for Cherries' 2-1 defeat by Stoke City on Saturday where Hughes' second-half spot-kick blunder proved crucial.

The Northern Ireland international sat with Cherries fans behind the Potters' goal and watched his old club for the first time since his summer move to Preston.

And just six months after he suffered a similar fate at the Britannia, Robinson looked on in disbelief as Hughes' 55th-minute penalty was saved by City goalkeeper Carl Muggleton.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Echo, Robinson said: "I just couldn't believe it. They say lightning doesn't strike twice, but it did on Saturday.

"I remember my penalty was saved by Gavin Ward at the other end of the pitch and I really felt for Richard when the goalkeeper dived to his left to make the save.

"It was unfortunate for Richard, but it can happen to anybody and even the best players in the world miss them as we saw in Euro 2000.

"The lads started the game quite poorly and were 2-0 down inside the opening 13 minutes, but after that they ran the game and the Stoke fans were getting on their players' backs.

"Jermaine Defoe scored a great header at a crucial stage of the game just before half-time and I think that if Richard had scored, Bournemouth would have gone on to win.

"I have watched Richard practice in training and I know he's a good penalty-taker. He's got to stick with it and I know he's the type of player who will not let it him worry him next time."

Robinson netted 16 out of 20 penalties for Cherries, while Hughes opened his account from the spot during the 3-2 defeat against Brentford at Griffin Park last month. The Scottish under-21 international was appointed as Cherries' penalty-taker following Robin-son's £375,000 transfer to Deepdale in May.

Robinson, who was accompanied by his wife Tracey and their baby son Harry on Saturday, has made 12 appearances for Preston, including seven as a substitute.

"I've been in and out of the team since I joined them and I've been playing up front and on the left wing which might surprise some people," added Robinson.

"But I've settled in really well and I'm happy to be there. Preston are a big club and we are fourth in Division One which has given us something to build on this season."