McQuoid is Bournemouth's top goalscorer this season

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe says that losing striker Josh McQuoid to Millwall has affected his side's confidence.

McQuoid, who has scored 12 goals for the Cherries this season, joined Millwall on loan in November with a view to making the move permanent.

Howe told BBC Radio Solent: "We have lost our belief. We lost our top goalscorer this season and it has knocked the lads.

"We need to regroup and get the team focused and confident again."

Bournemouth went down to a 3-1 FA Cup second round replay defeat by Notts County on Tuesday, with Howe making five changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Hartlepool at the weekend.

"We might've not had the balance or the shape of the squad but that's not why we let in three goals," said the Cherries boss.

"We played our strongest team but there were injuries to the lads who aren't here.

"Steve Fletcher is 38 years old so he can't play two games in a row no matter if we want him to, and Adam Smith is a young lad and we needed to give him a rest.

"We're constantly trying to compete and we'll continue to do that but our expectations for the future have to be realistic."

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