CHAIRMAN Jeff Mostyn expressed his “regards and respect” to Cherries’ fans who travelled to tonight’s 6-0 thumping at the hands of Norwich.

Three goals in either half saw the Dorset club humbled by their Premier League opposition, in what was Scott Parker’s first competitive defeat as Cherries’ head coach.

Almost 300 Cherries fans made the midweek 460-mile round trip to support their side and were applauded by Parker and his squad after the final whistle.

And chairman Mostyn posted on Twitter after the contest: “I just want to say a huge thank you to all the @afcbournemouth supporters who travelled to Norwich this evening despite the result.

“Your support was incredible, thanks to each and every one of you, safe travels home regards and respect, Jeff.”

Also speaking about the fans on afcbTV post-match, Parker said: “I don’t want to apologise but what I want to say is I have the utmost gratitude for those travelling supporters.

“It was a painful night for them. It was a painful night for us all. They have travelled down to support us and at the end there they stayed there to clap us.

“From the bottom of my heart I appreciate that so much.

“It’s easy at those moments, when your team has been on the end of one and not put in a performance – very easy to go the other way, to leave.

“To a man they stayed there and supported the team and they probably recognise where we are at this current moment, in terms of this game.”