Is that a swing I see before me?

Supporters of most football clubs will be familiar with the kind of freak domestic injuries that can occasionally sideline their star players.

Veteran goalkeeper Dave Beasant's brief but dangerous encounter with a jar of salad cream is the stuff of legend.

But Steve Fletcher is the latest in a series of Bournemouth players seemingly determined to out-do one another in the domestic accident stakes.

Fletcher made the news this week while protecting his young daughter.

The big striker dived to stop a swing hitting his daughter on the head, after she had fallen off - but was caught above his left eye when the swing hit him instead.

Despite four stitches and a black eye, he hopes to be fit to face Brighton this weekend.

OTHER BIZARRE INJURIES AT BOURNEMOUTH October 1996: Jamie Vincent is sidelined for over a month when a gnat bite goes septic September 1997: Graeme Tomlinson, on loan from Manchester United, picks up a back strain from sleeping on a waterbed

However, black cats and lucky heather seem to have been in short supply at Dean Court in recent times.

Last month, midfielder Garreth O'Connor bruised his foot while dismantling a bunk bed at his girlfriend's house.

The Cherries' 2002/3 season was marred by a succession of injuries to goalkeepers - but none was more remarkable than Gareth Stewart, who cut his finger while moving a fridge at home.

However, one of their opponents in that season did try to redress the balance.

Not to be outdone, Sean Flynn managed to rule himself out of Kidderminster's trip to the south coast by slipping on a child's toy and falling down the stairs.