SKIPPER Tommy Elphick insists Cherries should have nothing to fear from the Championship following their FA Cup exploits against high-flying Liverpool.

Elphick said: “We can take a lot of pride, especially from the first half. We were well on top and had some nice chances.

"We could have gone in front but it wasn’t to be and Liverpool showed their class with how ruthless they were. They took their chances emphatically and left us with a mountain to climb.

“We lost our way a little after they had scored the second goal and they started to dominate with the ball. But we went toe to toe with one of the best teams in the country so it was a great experience and we can build on it.

“We wanted to play good football and looked to put our mark on the game which we did.

"I thought they were a little surprised at how good we were on the ball and some of the moves we put together were fantastic. We need to take this forward, continue with that sort of style and have the same presence in league games.

“Although we didn’t win, we have to take confidence from the game. We are out of the cup and can concentrate solely on picking up as many points as possible and finishing as high in the table as we can. I thought our performance shows we should fear nobody in the Championship.”

Elphick described as “a great experience” coming face to face with Luis Suarez, the Uruguayan striker having a hand in both Liverpool goals.

“You can’t rest for a minute,” said Elphick. “He is always playing on your shoulder and testing you, whether he has the ball or he doesn’t. 

"We were disappointed to concede two goals but, on the whole, I thought it was a positive performance and there were some great stand-out individual displays.

"Hopefully, if we can take that into the Championship, we should pick up some more points.

“You have to make allowances for a player like Suarez and be very careful. You have to concentrate. We didn’t have any sort of master plan to keep him quiet.

"I think you just have to trust yourself and your ability to defend well when he gets the ball.”

  • GRAB today’s Daily Echo for your bumper 16-page FA Cup special looking back on Cherries’ FA Cup date with Liverpool including photos, report and in-depth match reaction from Dean Court.