WILL Croker insists his in-form Bournemouth team will guard against complacency ahead of tomorrow’s trip to “nuggety” Cleve.

Bournemouth will be protecting a four-match unbeaten run against opponents they comfortably saw off on their own patch earlier this season.

Head coach Croker is nevertheless conscious that his side’s record on the road this term has thus far prevented them from becoming a real factor at the top end of National Three South West.

He told the Daily Echo: “We went to Cleve last year and got turned over, and we haven’t travelled particularly well this season.

"They are well marshalled, they have an extremely good coach in Ryan Davis, a former fly-half for Bath and Exeter.

"They are tough to play against and we won’t be taking anything for granted.

Lions' purple patch has propelled them up to sixth place – and within striking distance of the division's top spots.

They will only sustain that charge, however, by rectifying their away-day issues, with September's victory at Lydney their lone success outside home environs this season.

“Our results away from home haven’t been where we would want them to be and that’s a reason why we’re not at the very top of the league," said Croker.

“If we were rubbish away you could just accept we’re not going to go up because we’re not good enough on our travels.

“But we’ve put ourselves in so many winning positions in away matches and then lost in the last minute. That’s the frustration. I don’t think it’s a skill set problem, or a problem with our application."

With league leaders Dings Crusaders due to visit Chapel Gate next week, Croker is especially keen for Bournemouth to maintain their winning momentum against ninth-placed Cleve this weekend.

“We have too talented a group of players for us not to have gone on a winning run at some point, now we have to extend that,” he added.

“This week we have to prepare for a team that are nuggety, they like to get under your skin. They are happy to defend for periods, then they will try to hit you on the counter.

“That’s the challenge that faces us, then we’ll concentrate on Dings when this is out of the way.”

Lions: Hancox, Jeffes, Everett-Bolter, Chislett, Roberts, Boyd, Davies, Spikings, Manning, Firetto, Treloar, Kenneally, Hennings, Bennett, Rees. Replacements: Richardson, Snell, Yates.