STRIKER Matt Tubbs is keen to shed his impact sub tag and grab the goals to help revive Cherries’ faltering promotion push.

Tubbs came off the bench to notch his fifth goal of the season as Cherries were sentenced to an unjust 2-1 defeat by League One leaders Doncaster on Saturday.

The 28-year-old appeared to have salvaged a deserved share of the spoils for Eddie Howe’s men after pouncing on defender Jamie McCombe’s error to bag a delightful late leveller.

However, just seconds later, Rovers mounted a swift counter-attack and put another spoke through Cherries’ promotion hopes when James Husband scored a dramatic winner.

Defeat – Cherries’ fifth in succession – has left them seven points adrift of second-placed Sheffield United and three behind Brentford, who occupy the last play-off berth.

Tubbs told the Daily Echo: “I thought we deserved all three points. Doncaster came here with a game-plan and put out all their big boys and tried to rough us up a bit. But we still should have won.

“There are nine games remaining and still a lot of points to play for. We went on a long unbeaten run earlier in the season and there is no reason why we can’t do it again.”

Although Tubbs has made 26 league appearances this season, he has been restricted to just four starts – at home to Brentford and Coventry and away to Swindon and Bury.

His chances have been limited by the form of Lewis Grabban and Brett Pitman who have netted 13 and 10 goals, respectively.

Tubbs, whose strike against Doncaster was his first in 16 league appearances, with all but two coming from the bench, added: “I am willing the lads to win every game and am willing the strikers to score as many goals as they can. I want to be a Championship player next season and, if we all stick together, there is no reason why we can’t get there.

“All I can do is keep plugging away and, hopefully, take my chances when they come. If I am on the bench, I am more than happy to come on and try to get goals like I did against Doncaster. It is a team game.

“Brett and Lewis have done a great job all season and have got a partnership which has worked for so long. All I can do is wait in the wings.

“I would be stupid to say I don’t want to start games. It is my job and I get paid to play football. I don’t really want to be on the bench for the whole season and want to grab a shirt. I am 29 in the summer and am not getting any younger. I want us to go up to the next level.”