DEFENDER Tommy Elphick believes Cherries must go back to basics as they look to kick start their season.

Elphick has featured in all but one of Cherries’ seven League One encounters since his switch from Brighton last month.

And while Paul Groves’ men may have suffered only one defeat, a solitary victory and five draws has left them languishing in 17th place in the table.

Elphick, who has played alongside skipper Miles Addison in a new-look central defensive partnership, has also seen Cherries keep just one clean sheet in the league.

The 25-year-old was involved in back-to-back draws against Hartlepool and Brentford as Cherries were left still searching for a first win of the season at Goldsands Stadium.

Elphick told the Daily Echo: “We have got to try to win every game, not just our home games. We have missed a lot of opportunities where we should have come away with more than we have.

“The lads are really frustrated but we all want the same goal. The supporters were superb against Brentford and were really behind us. We all appreciated that and it made for a good atmosphere. We started the game well and felt like our season was going to kick off but we took another sideways step.

“We are still unbeaten at home so have to take that as a positive. It will come and is just a case of being patient. I am not a great believer in luck but can’t help but say we have been a bit unlucky.

“I don’t think we are giving away too many goalscoring chances and think we have been fairly solid. The chances are nothing chances, like the penalty against Hartlepool and the first goal against Brentford. Their second goal was a great strike.

“We have got to try to get back to basics in terms of our defending and keep clean sheets. If we can do that, I am sure we will win a lot of games.”

A Matt Tubbs header and a penalty from Charlie Daniels helped Cherries forge ahead against the Bees after Simon Francis’s unfortunate own goal had given the visitors the lead. However, Harry Forrester’s excellent second-half strike earned a point for the Londoners.

Elphick added: “We played with more intensity and desire. We conceded a sloppy goal, which wasn’t good for the morale after the results we have had recently, but fought back to get our noses in front.

“Then, I think it told that they had played on Thursday and us on Saturday because they looked a bit fresher. I thought we stopped trying to pass and it became a typical League One match where it was 50-50 and end to end.

“We were hanging on a bit but they got the second goal. We don’t want to be doing that with our passing style and we want to control games.”