SCOTT Parker cites the bravery of his squad as the reason why Cherries can break an unbeaten record that has stood for 60 years tomorrow, in an impassioned speech at Vitality Stadium.

Cherries equalled a club record, set in 1961-62 , of 14 games unbeaten into the league season with a comfortable 3-0 victory over play-off chasing Huddersfield Town last weekend.

They now travel to Reading’s Madejski Stadium as Championship leaders with, Parker insists, only three points on their mind – but the prize of becoming makers of Cherries history will find them anyway, if they can just avoid defeat.

Cherries already have a five-point lead on second-placed Fulham in the table, they have won the most games of any side and have, of course, lost the fewest.

And Parker wants to keep his side’s focus on the table, on the accumulation of points with the end goal of promotion in mind, despite the piece of history that looms overhead.

Speaking ahead of the trip to Berkshire, Parker said: “It’s really impressive, whether the record is there or not I think it’s really impressive what we’ve done so far.

“It’s impressive even if it was 25 games back in whenever it was, what’s impressive at this moment in time is how we’re going about our work, winning games, it’s a big feat in itself.

“So while there’s a record to be broken, like I always say to you, I’m not too focussed on that. I give this team big props for where they are currently and what we’ve done currently, of course it always helps if you do break records it probably gives you a little bit more, but the main focus is maintaining (the form) really.”

He continued: “Last year was obviously disappointment (play-off defeat), I get that, so there’s probably psychological elements.

“But like anything, you start a new campaign and there’s a little bit of a hangover. But the boys have hit the ground really running, they’ve hit the ground in terms of what I’ve asked of them and what I want from them.

“They’ve done so wholeheartedly and hence they’re getting the rewards at this moment in time. We need to understand what’s got us to this position, what’s getting Dom Solanke on 10 goals what he’s got so far, Ryan Christie five assists, eight clean sheets.

“Each individual accolade. And what’s getting us there is ultimately hard work and commitment. Being brave to learn from your mistakes, being brave to come in when you’re tired on the training ground after a Saturday, Wednesday game and then Thursday comes along and you have to get back out there again.

“You have to think about the end goal, and the end goal is a trophy or a promotion, or success. Or you live in the moment and you want to slip off, we’ve not done that at the moment,” he finished, “and that’s why we have done well.”