SAMMY Igoe is keen to stake his claim to become Jimmy Quinn's new middleman.

Igoe played a starring role during Cherries' Johnstone's Paint Trophy win over his former club Bristol Rovers in midweek.

The 32-year-old capped an impressive individual display by netting his debut goal for the club and revelled after being asked to operate in the centre of midfield.

And Igoe is hoping to keep his place when new boss Quinn picks his first team for Cherries' trip to League Two rivals Notts County tomorrow (3pm).

Igoe, who joined Cherries in the summer following his release by Rovers, told the Daily Echo: "It was a much better performance and I thought we were back to our best again.

"In all honesty, the team had been struggling to show the form that we showed in pre-season when we popped the ball around and looked really comfortable.

"For whatever reason, the season started and we didn't perform as a team. I don't think it had anything whatsoever to do with the manager going because we were due a good performance and, thankfully, we produced one."

Igoe, who started Cherries' first three games of the season, was brought back in by caretaker boss Joe Roach after being on the bench for the dismal league defeats by Exeter and Port Vale.

He added: "I've suffered with a loss of form, like a lot of the players. I wasn't overly pleased with how I was playing, as I'm sure a lot of the lads were.

"I felt great and was flying in pre-season but, once the season started, the team didn't play so well and it effects your performances.

"I was playing on the right and the left so it was nice to come in and play in the middle where I've always preferred to play because you can get on the ball a bit more."

Discussing Quinn's appointment, Igoe said: "I've had plenty of managers over time and it's swings and roundabouts. Some managers like you and some hate you. You just hope the new manager comes in and likes you as a player. It's a fresh start for everybody.

"All you can do is be honest and play as well as you can. A fresh face always tends to lift the team, whichever club you are at, so hopefully we'll start to pick up some good results.

"Some of us were saying on Tuesday that we'd wished it had been a league game because three points would have been fantastic. But the performance was what we really needed.

"We needed a really good performance because we hadn't produced one this season so hopefully it will lift the lads and we can keep it going at Notts County."