AFC Bournemouth win 4-1

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Despite producing a match-winning performance for the Dorset club, Steve Fletcher still found fault in his efforts.

He had a hand in all four of Bournemouth's goals – scoring twice and providing assistance to Jeff Goulding for both his goals – as the Dorset beat side  Bradford City 4-1 last night.

Fletcher said: “As happy as I am for scoring, I’m a bit disappointed that my man scored their goal. He did me a treat. Even at my age you still learn things and you have to be tight to your man. As many headers as I have won in the past 13 games when I’ve gone back to defend, I was gutted. I was so happy to see the second goal go in and to come in at 3-1 up. If we’d come in at 1-1, even though I scored our goal, I’d have been gutted because it was my man that scored. It happens in football and happens to the best of players in the Premier League. But it doesn’t matter if you play in the Premiership or League Two, if your man scores the goal you’ve got to hold your hands up."

He went on to say: “Ryan Garry let me know about it, which was good, because it shows the boys care.”

Despite Fletcher’s honest appraisal of his part in the Bradford goal, the match will be remembered for his starring role at the other end of the pitch.

His two goals – from left and right-foot finishes – and two assists laid the platform for a victory which lifted Bournemouth seven points clear of the drop zone.

The only thing lacking for Bournemouth's record appearance-maker was a hat-trick, as he missed out on the chance to register a treble when he was substituted in the second half. A head injury which required four stitches dashed his hopes of claiming the match ball.

Fletcher said: “I was delighted to get the two goals - but I wanted the hat-trick. I truly believed the hat-trick was on. The way things were going in the second half, I was in the zone and thought that the hat-trick was definitely going to happen. I just had a feeling - it was one of those games.”