UPBEAT Andrew Surman insists Cherries will not be looking nervously below them as the battle to remain in the Championship hots up.

Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Derby coupled with Charlton’s 1-0 win at home to QPR means Cherries are just nine points clear of the relegation spots with 15 games to go.

However, the Dean Court side are separated from the safety of 10th place by the same margin and loan midfielder Surman believes it is healthier to focus on climbing the table than to worry about dropping down.

He told the Daily Echo: “You’re better off looking up rather than behind you.

“We’re about the same points off the top as we are off the bottom and I think it’s definitely worth looking up. You don’t want to be looking behind you.

“We will take each game as it comes and if we can go on a decent run, you never know.”

Cherries have won just one of their past nine Championship fixtures but recent performances against the likes of high-fliers Leicester, Burnley and Derby have given cause for optimism.

Surman added: “If the performances hadn’t been good then that would be worrying, but they have been good.

"If we can turn a few of those draws or losses into wins then that will make a massive difference.”