BOSS Jonathan Woodgate admitted he was “mean” in taking off Arnaut Danjuma on a hat-trick but insisted: “I’ve got to look after the team.”

The Netherlands international ran ragged Coventry City with two goals and an assist in Cherries’ 4-1 victory this afternoon.

Woodgate admitted Danjuma was desperate to try and seal a hat-trick against the Sky Blues but, with victory in the bag, he replaced him in stoppage time.

Speaking about the Dutchman’s classy display, the Cherries head coach said: “He wanted to stay on. I was a meanie bringing him off because of his hat-trick but I’ve got to look after the team.

“The most important thing is him staying fit and to be honest with you, if for the last five minutes he’d have done something – a tackle or whatever - I wouldn’t have forgiven myself.

“It’s an important week coming up. The game was won so I had to bring him off. It’s unlucky but it’s the best thing for the team, the squad and the football club.”

Asked whether Danjuma said anything to him after being substituted, Woodgate replied: “He just smiled.

“It was a wry smile. He was like ‘gaffer, ah’. I said ‘listen Arnie, you’ll score more hat-tricks, don’t worry about it’.”