JOSH Gowling has described Lee Hughes as a "formidable force" and believes the Oldham striker could pose a major threat to Cherries ending their "stinking" home record.

Hughes is set to spearhead the Latics attack against Cherries after joining Oldham at the start of this season following his release from prison for causing death by dangerous driving.

The 31-year-old played for Kidderminster Harriers, Coventry City and West Bromwich Albion during a promising career before his imprisonment in 2004.

And during his time as an apprentice at the Hawthorns, defender Gowling trained alongside Hughes and knows he could be a tricky customer to keep tabs on tomorrow (3pm kick-off).

Gowling told the Daily Echo: "Although I know how he plays, it's always going to be difficult when you come up against someone of his quality.

"He's got great feet, he's strong and aggressive and got a hell of a strike on him. He's going to be difficult to mark and I've got to make sure I'm on my game."

Fourth-from-bottom Cherries will be looking to claim their first home league win for eight months when they host the 19th-placed Latics whose last victory at Dean Court came in 1974.

Gowling added: "They are on 16 points and we're on 13 so it's a big game for both teams. We know we haven't done well at home but we've got to put that behind us and get on with it."

Asked whether it was becoming more difficult to play at home, Gowling replied: "To be honest, it is and it's weird because we've done reasonably well away this season.

"But we haven't won a home league game since March and the fans have got every right to get on our backs because we've been stinking at Dean Court.

"We do feel the pressure when we're playing at home but we've got to put it out of our heads and get on with it.

"We know we didn't deserve to beat Barrow on Tuesday because they were the better side. It's not good times but we've got to take the positives from it because we didn't play well and won."

Gowling also believes the players must shoulder their share of responsibility for Cherries' dismal home form and thinks criticism of boss Kevin Bond is unjustified.

He said: "If we're not doing well, the first person they are going to look at is the manager. It's unfortunate because we haven't played well as a team and you can't just put that down to him.

"You've got to look at the players and we've got to have a bit more heart. I don't think it's fair to put the blame on the manager because it's down to us."