OVERJOYED Marc Pugh could not decide whether his first Premier League goal was the most memorable strike of his career – but confirmed it had made his top two. 

Substitute Pugh’s second-half strike swung the pendulum back in Cherries’ favour as the club secured its first top-flight victory at West Ham United on Saturday.

It was also a milestone for the long-serving Lancastrian, whose 40th Cherries goal completed his personal set of scoring in each of the top five levels of English football. 

But the 28-year-old, a loyal servant of more than 200 league appearances across more than five years in Dorset, says his angled ripsnorter in last season’s promotion decider against Bolton takes some beating.

Pugh told the Daily Echo: “When I was a young boy, all I wanted was to play in the Premier League so to score my first goal at this level was a dream come true. 

“The most important thing was getting those first three points on the board and I was as delighted for the boys as I was for myself. We have worked tirelessly all pre-season for days like these so it was a great feeling to get over the line.

"It was an amazing feeling. Scoring my first hat-trick (at Birmingham last season) was memorable but the Premier League is the best league in the world and to score at this level is something I have always wanted to achieve. Hopefully, it will be the first of many. 

“But when I think back to Bolton and the goal that helped us get promoted, it is difficult to pick. They bring up different emotions but I would probably pinpoint those two because of how important the goals were.”