GOAL hungry Marc Pugh soared to the top of Cherries’ scoring charts and then targeted double figures – before Christmas.

The attacking midfielder continued his excellent start to his Dean Court career by playing a part in all three goals as Cherries fought back to beat MK Dons 3-2 on Saturday.

Summer signing Pugh, in fine form since joining from Hereford United, teed up Danny Hollands and Anton Robinson with set pieces before heading home his sixth of the campaign to complete a memorable turnaround.

The Lancastrian playmaker arrived in Dorset with a promising reputation, as he was the Bulls’ leading marksman last term.

And he has already set his sights high – with one aim being to surpass the 13-goal haul he managed for the Edgar Street outfit.

“It’s six and I’m disappointed not to have more because I had a few chances earlier in the season,” the 23-year-old told the Echo.

“As a footballer, you’ve got to set your standards as high as possible and it’s important for me to try to improve on last season’s tally. If you keep believing you’re going to score goals, I believe they will eventually come. With the start I’ve had, I want to be in double figures before Christmas and I’ll be disappointed if I’m not.

“I want to try to beat 13. If I don’t and I get there or thereabouts, I’ll be happy because it’s my first full season in League One. But I want to try to beat it and be the best player I can be.”

Pugh revealed that the secret to his and Cherries’ success in the early stages of the campaign has been hard work.

He said: “I’ve been working on my finishing and it’s definitely paying off. I’ve just got to continue my form, keep getting in the box and scoring goals.

“As a team, the lads all want to stay out at training and improve their game and I think it’s paying off.”

Pugh went from provider to finisher when he registered Cherries’ vital third goal against the Dons and was the beneficiary of a fine cross from Steve Fletcher, who again made a big impact off the bench.

“He put it right on my head and I only had to guide it into the back of the net,” said Pugh, who will cost Cherries £100,000 after a Football League transfer tribunal ruling in August.

“Fletch came on and did really well again, like he did last week. We did play a bit more direct to him but, once we got in the final third, we got the ball down and played some great stuff.”