CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe saw Marc Pugh reach a remarkable goalscoring milestone before admitting: “He epitomises everything we stand for.”

Pugh’s effort in Cherries’ maiden Premier League win at West Ham meant that the winger had netted in the top five divisions of English football.

And Howe insisted that the Dorset club’s longest-serving player – recruited for a £100,000 fee set by a tribunal five years ago – had once again proved his worth after coming on as a second-half substitute.

The boss told the Daily Echo: “When we signed Marc from Hereford, I think there were a few gulps in the boardroom because we had no money at the time and it was a massive signing for the football club.

“But we really backed the player because we had seen him first-hand against us. He destroyed us in one game and I think every penny was well-spent.

“With every challenge he has been given during his time here, he has responded positively, improved and grown, just as the club has.

“I think his attitude off the pitch epitomises everything we stand for and he deserves the accolade of having scored in the top five divisions – you’ve never met a more dedicated, nice guy.

“He was left out of the starting XI against Liverpool and West Ham but took those decisions like a man and showed he was a true team player.

“When someone of that attitude goes on to do so well when given the chance, it pleases me no end, so congratulations go to him.”

Pugh had previously netted in the Conference while on loan at Kidderminster, in League Two with Bury, Shrewsbury and Hereford, in League One with Hereford and Cherries and in the Championship with Cherries.

The Bacup-born 28-year-old had only been on the field 15 minutes when he put the visitors 3-2 in front, after their initial two-goal lead had evaporated into thin air.

And Callum Wilson’s subsequent penalty proved enough for victory for Cherries, despite Modibo Maiga’s late strike.

Reflecting on Pugh’s effort, Howe said: “It was absolutely massive for us. I know every goal is important but it was the key goal in the game.

“He had a long time to look at it and size up the goalkeeper and put it away, so fair play to him for that.

“It was a fantastic finish because there was a lot of pressure at that moment.

“Overall, I was very pleased with our cutting edge and I thought we looked a real threat on the counter-attack in the first half.

“We looked like we were going to score goals, we made good decisions in the final third and I had a feeling things were going to happen for us. I can’t be unhappy that we scored four goals.

“It was a rollercoaster of emotions for everybody in the second half.

“Certainly there is a lot that we can reflect on and learn from. We gave away some terrible goals from our perspective. The pleasing thing is we still won.

“To create the number of chances that we did at Liverpool showed we were in good heart and this latest result will do us no end of good in terms of reinforcing that belief.”

  • For plenty more reaction to Cherries' victory over West Ham, see today's copy of The Prem, free inside your Daily Echo.