MIDFIELD general Darren Anderton has challenged his Cherries team-mates to pull off the greatest of Great Escapes by winning their final four games of the season.

Influential skipper Anderton returned from a five-month injury layoff to lead Cherries to a remarkable 2-1 win over League One table-toppers Swansea on Saturday.

Kevin Bond's heroes came from behind to register a memorable triumph at the Liberty Stadium thanks to dramatic last-gasp goals from Joe Partington and Jo Kuffour.

Trailing to Andy Robinson's 50th-minute header, Cherries stunned the hosts when Partington and Kuffour both netted in the dying seconds to seal a potentially-priceless victory.

Now just six points adrift of safety, Cherries are still in with a fighting chance of preserving their third-flight status, something which seemed an impossible task after they had been docked 10 points for entering administration in February.

Anderton, who chalked up his 50th appearance for Cherries, told the Daily Echo: "It has given us a chance that most people probably didn't think we had so it's great to keep it going. We probably need to win our remaining four games and, with results like that, you really start to believe.

"I thought we probably played better after we had gone a goal behind. Until they scored, we were playing okay and were quite comfortable but then, from our point of view, gave away a really bad goal. It was very poor marking.

"But we reacted really well. They probably thought they had done enough but the boys stuck at it. Joe scored a great goal from the corner and once we had scored that, I had a sneaky feeling we would go on to win it and that's how it turned out."

Despite a lack of match practice, Anderton performed as if he had never been away and received generous applause from the home crowd when he was replaced by goal hero Partington with just three minutes remaining.

The 36-year-old former England international added: "I was really pleased. I was blowing from very early on but I managed to keep myself going and lasted longer than I thought I would.

"I heard the reception and it was really nice and much appreciated. Although I've had four or five training sessions, I haven't played any games so it was a bit of a surprise to be playing but a nice one."

Cherries will be looking to continue their mission improbable when they host Bristol Rovers in five days' time before travelling to Walsall a week on Saturday. Their final home game is against fellow strugglers Crewe on April 26 before the curtain comes down at Carlisle on May 3.

Boss Bond said: "We had players playing out of position and players who hadn't played for months. But I still thought we managed to cause them the odd problem or two and they deserved the victory for sheer determination alone.

"Even after we had taken the lead, I couldn't quite believe that we would hang on. You just thought, this can't happen'. I was so pleased with how they had done yet so disappointed to have gone a goal behind. It was a fantastic feeling and it keeps us going for another week."