SIMON Francis has warned free-scoring Cherries to ignore Aston Villa’s dismal record in front of goal ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup showdown (3pm).

Cherries boast the best domestic attacking record in English professional football with 73 goals in all competitions compared with Villa’s meagre tally of 12 – the worst across all four divisions.

Eddie Howe’s net-busters have also scored more league goals in the second city than Villa this season with Cherries’ record-breaking 8-0 triumph at Birmingham City eclipsing their opponents’ seven goals in 11 Premier League home matches.

Cherries will be seeking a fifth-round berth for only the fourth time in club history but Francis insists an attacking approach must balanced with healthy respect if they are to pull off a cup shock at Villa Park.

Francis told the Daily Echo: “We have to try and take advantage. We thought Liverpool were struggling when we played them (in the League Cup) but maybe showed them a bit too much respect and got punished.

“Aston Villa is an established Premier League club with a lot of good players. We have to make sure we remember that also realise that this is a good chance for us.

“The lads who have not been playing might get an opportunity. I’m not sure what the manager will do but we will have a strong team whoever gets the nod and we will give it a right go as we always do.

“Over the past couple of years we have had some decent runs in cup competitions. It has been exciting and enjoyable to be involved and it would be great to claim a victory against a top side.

Francis continued: “I had not been made aware of the figures but we will not think about them too much.

“It is not good to tempt fate and you do not want to be chalking up too many statistics. We have to make sure we give them the respect they deserve because it will be a big game for them as well.

“Villa will want to put on a good display to take into the league but it is the same for us. The Watford match is a huge one and it is on Sky so what better way to set us up than to put on a good display and hopefully get the right result.”