SIMON Francis admits Cherries are desperate to avoid flash-in-the-pan status and says dressing room unity is key to an extended stay at the Championship summit.

Eddie Howe’s side returned to top spot for the first time since mid-August after beating Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 at Hillsborough on Tuesday.

Cherries’ sixth consecutive win and third straight away victory – both club records in the second tier – fuelled the promotion debate but full-back Francis says he and his team-mates will remain grounded in the face of increased expectation.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s top-of-the-table clash with Middlesbrough (3pm), Francis said: “In the changing room there isn’t too much talk about promotion. We know how early it is. It’s not like there are three or four games left and the end is in sight.

“We are up there because we have been on an excellent run but there is a long way to go.

“The real challenge for us is to stay there by maintaining performance levels and getting results. We want to be in and amongst it, we don’t want to be forgotten in a few months’ time.

“Like the manager said, we have become a scalp for other teams and they will show us a lot more respect and we will have to handle that each week.

“But we have got a great team spirit and we all give each other confidence. If anyone was getting ahead of themselves, I’m sure we’d let them know about it in a fun way.

“At the end of the day we are players and we want to enjoy every game and win every game possible.”

The 29-year-old former Charlton man says tomorrow’s mouth-watering fixture has come “at a great time”.

And the experienced defender is keen to improve on last season’s 3-3 draw at the Riverside, in which Cherries surrendered an early 2-0 lead.

Francis continued: “This is the last game before the international break and it’s the one everyone will be looking at. It could not have worked out any better.

“Middlesbrough are a top team. They have really come of age in the last couple of years and have found their feet in this division.

“They have a Premier League setup and a fantastic squad and it’s a perfect game for us at a great time. We are two teams that want to play football and entertain.

“If we can score the goals that we did last time without conceding, it will be a good day.”