MARC Pugh is desperate to help Cherries break their Colchester jinx and erase the “horrible feeling” of a previous visit to the Community Stadium.

Pugh is this afternoon likely to be the only survivor in the starting line-up from Cherries’ 2-1 defeat at the Essex venue in January 2011 – Eddie Howe’s final game as manager in his first spell.

His departure to Burnley was announced following the final whistle, with Howe leaving Cherries when they were just a point off an automatic promotion place in League One.

Howe, who signed Pugh from Hereford in 2010, has played a key role in the winger’s development, his return in October coinciding with the 25-year-old penning a new contract.

Pugh told the Daily Echo: “There was a lot of disappointment in the air that night at Colchester and seeing the manager go was a real kick in the teeth for everybody connected with the club. It was a horrible feeling for the players because everyone loved playing for him and got on well with him.

“I have always said that his return was a big factor in me signing my contract. He knows how to get the best out of players and he knows how ambitious the club is. It is no coincidence that we have been successful since he came back.

“We have been on an unbelievable run and, hopefully, we can go up this season. The club is definitely going in the right direction and I love it here. The manager is happy here and he wants to take the club as high as possible.”

Pugh, leading goalscorer in his first two seasons at Dean Court and the current Daily Echo-Micky Cave supporters’ player of the year, is anticipating another tough test as Cherries go in search of securing their first win at Colchester’s Community Stadium (3pm).

“They have turned a corner recently but are still fighting for their lives,” added the popular Lancastrian. “We need to keep our run going and hope other teams around us drop points. A few of them are playing each other but we can’t worry about them or keep looking at the table.

“We need to look after ourselves and concentrate on winning games. The two most consistent teams will go up and we need to make sure we are one of them. We are in good form and have played well in our past three games.

“We are full of confidence but know we will have to dig in and be as professional as possible against Colchester. We have given ourselves a chance with the great run we have been on since October and now we want to make the most of it.”