PLEADING THE LINE

Danjuma 1, 28, Brooks 69, 3 90+2 Dan doubled up in agony as Woodgate denies him a treble chance

ARNAUT DANJUMA begged Bournemouth boss Jonathan Woodgate not to take him off and deny him the chance to go home with his first ever match ball.

A first-half double from man-of-the-match Danjuma helped propel the Cherries into the play-off places.

But the Dutch midfielder’s dreams of a treble were dashed when he was rested by Woodgate halfway into 12 minutes of stoppage time.

Danjuma said: “The gaffer looked at me to take me off.

“I looked at him and was like, ‘Please gaffer. Let me stay on the pitch’.

“He said he needed me again Tuesday against Huddersfield. I was not happy with it because I was just looking for one chance to complete the hat-trick.

“I have never scored a professional hat-trick, which is why I was aiming for my first one but I will make it happen another time.”

Danjuma’s first goal came with just 24 seconds on the clock and the Dutchman squeezed in his second 17 minutes before half-time.

Danjuma then set up fit-again David Brooks for his fourth Championship goal of the season before Dominic Solanke completed the rout in stoppage time as Bournemouth racked up a fourth straight league win.

“That was the quickest goal of my career, so I am happy to get my two goals and happy to get another assist,” said Danjuma.

“David gave me an assist on my first goal so

I told him I would return the favour and I am happy that I did. I always prefer goals but I will take every assist because they are like half a goal for me.

“As long as we are in the play-offs everything is possible.

“The season is not finished, so we just need to move forward as we have been.

“That is four wins on the spin now so we aim for the fifth on Tuesday.”

Coventry’s only moment of cheer came from a third minute 25-yard free-kick by Matty James which fizzed past Asmir Begovic.

The injury-hit Sky Blues face a crunch clash with relegation rivals Rotherham on Thursday.

Manager Mark Robins said: “It is down to us. That is going to be a Battle Royal.

“We know what we are expecting and what we have to do and we just have to go and do it.”