Richard's joy at goal-den return

Hughes, who has been plagued by groin problems this season, settled Cherries' nerves against the part-timers by opening the scoring with a cracking 25-yard drive after just 14 minutes.

It was the first time the Scotsman had completed 90 minutes for the first team since the opening day of the season at Huddersfield, although his appearance came under difficult circumstances.

Hughes was expecting to start on the substitutes' bench after Warren Feeney had successfully appealed against his sending-off before Derek Holmes was forced to withdraw from the Cherries squad at the 11th hour.

Holmes was given compassionate leave to return to Scotland after his father had been seriously injured in a car crash on Friday and his absence resulted in Hughes being promoted to the starting line up.

Hughes said: "The manager spoke to me on Thursday and said he didn't know how Warren's appeal would go so he tinkered with the formation in training and played half-an-hour with me and half-an-hour with Warren.

"He changed it around to give himself options depending on the outcome and everyone was delighted that Warren's appeal was successful and that he was available for the game.

"When you come back from injury, you are just happy to find your feet for a bit and get your fitness back.

"Then, when the chance comes along to perform, you want to be on the ball and do the best you can.

"The circumstances with which I came into the side are unfortunate because of what happen to Derek's dad, but once I was asked to do it, I just had to focus and try to do a job.

"The manager has always said that if the boys play well he's going to stick by them and over the last three games he's named an unchanged team so I don't think you can expect him to make changes to a winning team.

"I know I can do a job when called upon and I was just delighted to get the chance albeit in those circumstances, but I was pleased to come in and do a job."