STRIKER Callum Wilson reflected on his recent goal drought and said: “You can’t beat yourself up about it.”

The 26-year-old frontman has gone 10 games without scoring – equalling his longest run of fixtures without finding the net for Eddie Howe’s men.

Wilson has seven league goals for Cherries this season, his most recent coming in the 3-0 victory at Chelsea in January.

Discussing his dip in goalscoring form, he told the Daily Echo: “You can’t beat yourself up about it. The more you get frustrated about not scoring, the more you aren’t going to score, so you just have to relax.

“It doesn’t really bother me. I believe in my ability and know the chances and goals will come. As long as I am doing the right things and working hard, you are going to get opportunities.

“Against Manchester United I had a great opportunity and, unfortunately, it didn’t go for me. I will keep believing in myself. I don’t lose confidence from not scoring.

“I want to get to double figures as soon as possible and I will be working hard to make sure I’m ready for the next game.

“It is nice to get to double figures. When I get there, I want to kick on from that and improve.”

Despite failing to fire in more than 11 weeks, Wilson remains Cherries’ leading scorer in the top flight this season.

Joshua King has six goals, while Junior Stanislas struck on five occasions before being ruled out for the campaign with a serious knee injury.

Wilson was denied what appeared a clear penalty when he tangled with Red Devils defender Luke Shaw on Wednesday, as Cherries were beaten 2-0 at Vitality Stadium.

Giving his take on the incident, the striker said: “I was disappointed the decision didn’t go for us. Sometimes, as a striker, you want the benefit of the doubt.

“When you are about to tap the ball home and you get dragged down in the box, it’s disappointing, but you can’t dwell on those decisions. You have to move on and we have some big games coming up.

“I think we have a great opportunity to get more points than we did last season. We have a few days to reflect on the United game, take the positives, and work harder.”

The frontman also revealed he had revelled in a physical battle with United centre-half Chris Smalling and had not been afraid to go toe-to-toe with the England international. “I tried to rough him up a bit and he was giving me some stick,” the Cherries ace added.

“We were having a little wrestling match at one point but I was trying to impose myself on the game as much as I could.

“We had a laugh and a joke about it after. I like playing physically and I gave as good as I got.”