BOSS Eddie Howe saw Cherries maintain pole position in the Championship before dismissing suggestions they were now favourites for automatic promotion.

Second-half goals from Yann Kermorgant and Callum Wilson earned Cherries a 2-0 win at Brighton on Friday and extended to nine games their unbeaten record.

Although victory saw Cherries open a four-point gap, wins on Saturday for Watford, Norwich and Middlesbrough resulted in no change in the promotion picture with four games remaining.

Asked whether he felt Cherries were favourites, Howe replied: “No. With every win, we take it away from some of the teams which have been challenging all season but I still think it is anyone’s.

“We have to focus on every game, not get complacent and remember that this league has a habit of throwing up surprises. We want to make sure that we stay strong until the end.

“We are looking to get as many points as we can, we are looking at all 12 and have to try to win every game. With the form of the other teams and the division as it has been this season, it wouldn’t surprise me if there were teams in the top places which won all of their games so we are going to have to do our bit as well.

“It is important we focus and remember that nothing has been achieved. We have another huge game at Reading so have to prepare as well as we can.”

Neither team registered a shot on target during an instantly forgettable first half at the Amex before Kermorgant’s stunning 25-yard free-kick broke the deadlock in the 70th minute.

And the Frenchman then turned provider for Wilson to bag his 21st goal of the campaign as Cherries doubled their lead to see off the Seagulls 10 minutes from time.

Howe added: “It was evident from early on that it wasn’t going to be a free-scoring game and that was down to how both teams set up. It was a very tactical battle.

“Both teams cancelled out each other. The midfield area was quite congested and there wasn’t a lot of space in central areas so we had to be mindful of Brighton’s strengths. I thought we nullified theirs and they nullified ours and it took a moment of magic to win the game.

“It was unusual because we normally create a lot of chances, put balls into box and do all the things our goalscoring record would suggest. For us to have two shots on target was a compliment to Brighton but they only had one so that was a compliment to our defensive structure.

“It was really good to see our front two link like they did. Yann is capable of scoring great free-kicks and we see it all the time in training. It is one of his specialities and one of his trademarks. His chipped pass for the second goal was also excellent and Callum had the composure to check a couple of times before finishing it really well.”