CHERRIES' slim hopes of avoiding the drop have been rocked further by the loss of key defender Warren Cummings for the Easter period.

Cummings is certain to be taken out of the firing line after aggravating a shin injury during Cherries' 2-0 victory over Yeovil on Saturday.

The 27-year-old defender had been playing through the pain barrier after a heavy blow split open his lower left leg at Luton last month.

Cummings, who had six stitches at Kenilworth Road, then suffered an infection and has played the past seven games with the wound heavily bandaged.

However, disaster struck when he took another whack to the damaged area after being caught by Marcus Stewart inside the opening seconds against Yeovil.

And despite managing to run off the discomfort to complete his 22nd successive appearance, Cummings was admitted to hospital for a minor operation on Saturday night.

He told the Daily Echo: "It opened right up again. We couldn't stop the bleeding and there would have been a big risk of another infection if I hadn't got it sorted.

"I thought it was starting to clear up but, after about five seconds of the game, Marcus Stewart caught me right on the spot where the stitches had been.

"I've had it cleaned up and it's been properly stitched. It's disappointing and although I'm only speculating, hopefully it shouldn't be any longer than 10 days."

Cummings played his part as Cherries kept alive their faint hopes of preserving their League One status with a facile victory over hopelessly out of form Yeovil.

But although first-half goals from Danny Hollands and Sam Vokes secured the spoils, Crewe's win at Gillingham left Cherries 11 points adrift of safety.

Cummings, who is likely to sit out Cherries' Easter double header against Gillingham and Tranmere, added: "I thought we were very solid and Yeovil never looked like troubling us.

"There's no point in looking at the table because we know we're still behind. We can only look if we get a few wins under our belt.

"We are professionals and have a job to do until the last game of the season, whatever is thrown our way. Unfortunately, we've been deducted 10 points and that's absolutely nothing to do with the players.

"I think it was a credit to everyone in the dressing room for the way we bounced back so convincingly following two successive defeats."

Cherries boss Kevin Bond, who was forced to name five youth team players on the bench, said: "Under difficult circumstances, the lads did exceptionally well.

"It was a great win capped off by two good goals and a clean sheet. On the balance of play, I thought we might have had more goals but I was thoroughly delighted with what we got because the lads gave a good account of themselves."

Bond added: "We can't do anything about the other teams, we can only try to affect what we do.

"If this keeps us in the hunt then that is probably as much as we can ask at this moment in time. It should give us a big lift going into our next game."