INSPIRATIONAL skipper Simon Francis insists Cherries have the mettle to deal with a run of games he believes will make or break the club's season.

Defeat to reigning champions Chelsea on Saturday saw Cherries remain in the Premier League's bottom three ahead of a crucial month in the campaign.

Eddie Howe's side travel to Newcastle United this weekend and host top flight new boys Huddersfield Town after the international break. A trip to struggling Swansea City follows, with a home fixture against Burnley completing November.

The Dorset side currently have seven points on the board, five fewer than at this stage last season and one fewer than in their inaugural Premier League voyage.

And former Charlton and Southend defender Francis has backed his team-mates to deliver in important upcoming fixtures, despite his concerns over injuries picked up by Junior Stanislas and Benik Afobe against the Blues.

He told the Daily Echo: "The Chelsea game was not going to make or break our season but the next three, four or five games certainly will so we have to put in maximum performances to try to get maximum points out of them.

"We haven't had a start like this in the Premier League. If you look back over the past couple of seasons, we were higher than we are now.

"But we have had dips in the season before and have bounced back. I've always said how good the character is so I'm not too worried about that side of things, probably more worried about the injuries the lads have picked up.

"At the start of the season we had a near fully fit squad and everyone was looking in great shape and raring to go. We got two injuries against Chelsea so, hopefully, they are not too serious.

"There are always players waiting in the wings. The manager regularly alludes to the fact you are only as good as your squad.

"He changes formation and personnel depending on who we come up against so everyone has to be on their game and ready to start."

Five of Cherries' seven Premier League defeats this season have been by a single goal while Howe's men were held to their only draw by Leicester, despite dominating the contest.

Francis added: "I can certainly look back at games and feel we were hard done by, where we should have won or picked up a draw. But at the same time you can't dwell on that. You can't think 'what if?',

"Games come thick and fast and after assessing what you have done wrong and right, you have to move on.

"We know how big the next few games are. They are crucial in picking up points.

"We've been improving in the past few weeks. Against Stoke, we showed two sides of our game to win and I think it will be similar against Newcastle.

"We can play our stuff and while we certainly have to be wary of the strengths they possess, we have to try to get a win there."