CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe said he had never doubted goalkeeper Adam Federici following his much-publicised blunder for former club Reading in last season’s FA Cup.

Federici was the hero of Cherries’ League Cup win over Preston last night, the Aussie stopper pulling off a hat-trick of saves during a penalty shootout at Deepdale.

His exploits went some way to erasing the memory of allowing a tame shot from Arsenal’s Alexis Sánchez to slip through his grasp in the Royals’ FA Cup semi-final defeat in April.

Australian international Federici, who joined Cherries on a free transfer in the summer, had been inconsolable after the high-profile extra-time gaffe at Wembley.

Federici saved from Jordan Hugill, Alan Browne and Daniel Johnson, while Junior Stanislas, Steve Cook and Marc Pugh all scored their spot kicks as Cherries progressed into the fourth round.

Howe, asked whether he had had any doubts Federici would recover, replied: “Not at all. He is an outstanding and experienced international goalkeeper who we certainly believe in.

“He is also a great character and has been brilliant among the lads. Even though he is not playing the league games at the moment, he is certainly adding competition for places.”

Cherries twice surrendered the lead against Preston after Shaun MacDonald had headed them in front in the first half and Pugh had come off the bench to score in extra-time.

Substitute Hugill nodded home the hosts’ first leveller six minutes before the end of normal time and Daniel Johnson scored from the spot after Pugh had been judged to have handled in the closing stages of extra-time.

Howe said: “I felt there had been a push for the first goal and the second one was very soft. It was a tough call.

“I said we needed to find a way to win and hoped that would be in extra-time. If not, we would have taken a shootout and Feds showed what a top-class goalkeeper he is with some great saves. The lads who stepped up showed really good bottle as well to take their penalties cleanly.

“We were pegged back twice during the game but still had enough quality to come through and win. But you have to give credit to Preston because they didn’t give up.

"It is a difficult place to come and win so we were delighted to go through and delighted for our travelling supporters who made the long journey to watch us on a Tuesday.”