BOSS Jonathan Woodgate revealed Cherries’ squad gave Chris Mepham a round of applause for impressively stepping into Steve Cook’s shoes against Brentford.

The Wales international was brought on in first-half stoppage time after Cook had been unable to continue due to a knee injury.

Cherries went on to triumph 1-0 thanks to Arnaut Danjuma’s 55th-minute strike.

And Woodgate described as “fantastic” Mepham’s display, as he helped Cherries keep a clean sheet against his former club.

The Cherries head coach said: “I said in the changing room after the game. Meps has been unlucky at times this season with different situations.

“But I thought he was fantastic when he came on. It was a really, really good performance.

“All the players clapped him for how good it was. He’s remained professional under difficult circumstances.

“He’s a Welsh international and he was brought from this club from Brentford. He showed what a good player he is.”

Mepham was given game time by Woodgate in Cherries’ final two regulation league fixtures.

He played 90 minutes against Wycombe before a 20-minute cameo against Stoke City.

Asked whether that vindicated the boss’s decision to rotate his squad ahead of the play-offs, Woodgate replied: “That’s what I said and I said to him (Mepham) the other day when I was speaking to him ‘I’m putting Cookie back in but stay ready because you never know’.

“He produced a very, very good performance. Those minutes against Wycombe would have helped him no end.”