SKIPPER Tommy Elphick believes Cherries’ resounding win over Middlesbrough has given them the “biggest possible platform” for the promotion run-in.

Eddie Howe’s men turned on the style and returned to the Championship summit after seeing off their rivals with relative ease at Dean Court on Saturday.

Boro had arrived in Dorset in second place and boasted the best defensive record in the Football League having conceded just 27 goals in 38 games.

However, for only the second time this season and the first since August, the Teessiders shipped three goals in a league game with penalties from Yann Kermorgant and Brett Pitman coupled with a stunning strike from Harry Arter seeing Cherries reclaim pole position.

Elphick told the Daily Echo: “We were on top from the first minute and we got behind their back four on numerous occasions.

“Our back four were looking at theirs thinking they were meant to be the best in the league and Callum (Wilson) together with Yann and the two wide boys had them on toast at times.

“From a defender’s point of view, it was really good to keep a clean sheet against a strike-force which has been getting a lot of praise this season. There were so many positives going forward.

“We have spoken before about giving ourselves a platform to kick on from. Well, that was the biggest possible platform we could have given ourselves for the final seven games of the season.”

Elphick added: “We have worked so hard this season to try to improve our defensive record and I think we have. We have now conceded the joint-second fewest goals in the division and are top of the goals for chart so we must be doing something right. That was also our 15th clean sheet and that is a good number.

“I thought our two full-backs were superb and Artur (Boruc) was a massive presence, not only sweeping up behind us but coming for crosses and with his distribution. It was all really positive and an excellent all-round team performance.”