BRETT Pitman insisted he had opened his goals account for the season as he claimed Cherries' clincher at Doncaster.

Striker Pitman raised his arm in celebration after he had appeared to divert Charlie Daniels's free-kick beyond Rovers keeper Ross Turnbull yesterday.

While some also initially credited the effort to either Daniels or Elliott Ward, Cherries' analysts suggested Doncaster's James Husband had got the final touch.

Photographs and television replays also proved inconclusive, but last season's leading marksman was quick to stress that he had been on target.

Speaking after the 1-0 win, Pitman told the club website: “Charlie crossed it and I thought the defender in front was going to head it, but he ducked out of the way and it touched my left foot.

“Wardy said straight away that it was mine. Charlie tried to claim it but I told him to be happy with the clean sheet, so he can take that away from the game.”

Meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch, Ryan Allsop was delighted to register an away shutout following two heavy defeats on the road in the Championship.

The goalkeeper said: “It was a massive clean sheet for us. We have had two heavy losses away from home and I think we needed to get that one under our belts.

“We always had confidence in the team and the lads we have to do that. We were always going to bounce back and it was good to do it on Saturday.

“The lads defended well as a unit, everyone put their bodies on the line and everyone was brave to grind it out.”