Eddie Howe praises Matt Ritchie

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has heaped praise on winger Matt Ritchie for his performance in their 4-1 win over Bury on Saturday afternoon.

Ritchie scored Bournemouth's second with a 25-yard strike and Howe said that he is delighted to be able to play the 23-year-old on the wing instead of at left-back as he has had to in recent games.

"This is the first time we have been able to play Matt in his best position on the wing and he showed just what a good player he is," PA Sport quotes Howe as saying.

"We have had to play him at left-back and he did extremely well, but his natural position is on the wing because he is goalscorer and a goal-creator. We scored some great goals. We were the league's leading scorers for a time before a dry patch, but we are showing signs of recovering in that respect.

"The league is very tight and we are aware that we need to win by bigger margins. Goal difference could be vital at the end of the season. We lost a few important players to injury, but we have got most of them back now and that is bound to help."

Bournemouth moved up to third in League One with the win.