LEWIS Cook has issued a public apology to his teammates and Cherries fans after his costly red card in defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The crunch clash at Vitality Stadium was locked at 1-1 early in the second half on Saturday, when a moment of madness saw Cook dismissed.

The flashpoint occurred after a shove from Wolves’ Hwang Hee-Chan, who had just been cynically fouled by Cook.

Cook then reacted by headbutting the South Korean, who made the most of the contact and fell to the floor.

Referee Paul Tierney gave the 26-year-old his marching orders, just Cook’s second red card of his nine-year professional career.

Ten-man Cherries went on to lose 2-1, Sasa Kalajdzic popping up with a late winner which leaves Andoni Iraola’s men stuck in the relegation zone, still without a league win this season.

In a move rarely seen by players who have been sent off in a match, Cook took it upon himself to ask for the opportunity to speak to the media following the defeat.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, the one-time England international said: “Just a massive apology really to the players especially, the fans and the club.

“I don’t normally associate myself with something like that.

“In the heat of the moment I just made a terrible, terrible decision.

“I’m gutted, but more gutted for everyone else really. It’s a big mistake from myself and I take full responsibility on the result.

“It’s down to me and something I’ve got to definitely learn from.”

Bournemouth Echo: Cook reacted badly to a shove from HwangCook reacted badly to a shove from Hwang (Image: Richard Crease)

He added: “Even if someone pushes me like that, there’s no excuse for me to do how it looked like on the video.

“I’ve played football long enough now to know I shouldn’t have even put myself in that situation.

“I don’t even know why I did. All I can say is I’m really, really sorry.

“I need to learn from it and I’ve definitely let everyone down.

“It was a strange situation. I wasn’t exactly angry. He can push me, I just made a terrible decision.

“It was a heat of the moment, red mist kind of thing. You don’t really realise what happens. It was a stupid, stupid mistake from myself.

“I’ve never really done anything like that before.

“I can be quite an aggressive player, but I never really want to do something like that.

“I’m quite embarrassed for myself, to be honest."

Cook is now set to miss the next three fixtures through suspension for violent conduct.

Asked what role he will look to play now whilst he is unavailable for selection, he said: “I’ve got to just make sure I own my mistake, keep trying to help the lads in any way I can.

“I’ve got to try and work hard now and put it right.”

Discussing his decision to front up to the media, Cook explained: “The result is my fault. It’s no-one else’s fault.

“The lads worked tirelessly. I know we needed the win. I’m just truly sorry, to be honest.

“I just thought I’d come out here, hold my hands up and make sure everyone knows it was me and not the team.”