BOSS Eddie Howe admitted to feeling both “delighted” and “slightly frustrated” after he had presided over Cherries’ record-breaking victory at Birmingham yesterday.

Their 8-0 triumph at St Andrew’s was a post-war best away win in the second tier and also the club’s biggest since they joined the Football League in 1923.

Marc Pugh’s hat-trick, Tokelo Rantie’s double and goals from Brett Pitman, Callum Wilson and Matt Ritchie saw Howe’s class of 2014 eclipse the club’s previous best league win – 7-0 at home to Swindon in 1956.

Birmingham, condemned to their worst home defeat in their 139-year history, had defender David Edgar sent off after just six minutes, while Cherries goalkeeper Artur Boruc saved Paul Caddis’s second-half penalty.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “We set a new record because of the performance and the way the players approached the game. I like records because it means this team, hopefully, will be talked about in years to come and, on this display, they certainly deserve to be talked about.

“It is not easy playing against 10 men. We saw that at Bolton where we won the game from that position. We had to be very professional and, at no stage, did we take liberties or showboat despite the scoreline.

“Any neutral at the game would have seen an AFC Bournemouth team that was committed to try to do the best they could at all times and that was all you could ask.

“We started really well and shouldn’t forget the fact we were 1-0 up before they had a man sent off. The sending off made it more difficult for them but I didn’t think we were at our best in the first half.

“I was slightly frustrated at half-time because we had been a little loose on the ball and a little negative in our passing. I wanted us to go for more goals and we had seemed almost happy with one, which turned out to be three.

“I called for the lads to attack in the second half and play their normal game. Some of our inter-play around the box and decision-making was a lot better. Everybody deserves credit because it was a really good team display.

“We were ruthless, we improved our goal difference and won the game. That is what we try to do and that is what this team is capable of. The scoreline for me doesn’t play a huge role in that.”

Defeat proved too much for one disgruntled Blues supporter who ran across the pitch and appeared to hurl what looked like his season ticket at City caretaker-manager Malcolm Crosby.

Howe added: “I was delighted with the scoreline, the result and the manner with which we played in the second half.

“I felt for Malcolm because I have known him for a long time. I went on loan to Swindon during some dark days in my playing career and he was a real support to me. I know him personally and know what a really good football man he is.”