SCOTT Parker admits Cherries weren't "at our most fluid" but was left "proud" of his side for setting a new club record with victory at Reading.

Cherries remain unbeaten in the Championship this season, making it their longest run without defeat to start a league campaign in the club's history.

A goal in each half from Dominic Solanke and Jamal Lowe completed the 2-0 victory at Select Car Leasing Stadium, but Cherries did not have it all their own way.

Royals frontman George Puscas was guilty of missing the clearest opening, but the visitors took full advantage to bag another victory on the road, to stay five points clear at the top.

"I’m very proud of the team for what they’ve done," Parker told the Daily Echo when asked about their record-breaking start.

"This team and this group of players have worked tirelessly, like I keep saying. That’s what makes me proud of them.

"They understand in every facet of the game what’s needed. Tonight was a big challenge for us and probably the first challenge we’ve faced in terms of not starting the game well. This crowd were right up for it and we had to dig a little bit deep early on.

"We then get a foothold back in the game and we have to dig in. Sometimes you’ve got to win a little bit ugly and for bits tonight that’s the case."

He added: "I think we knew it would be a challenge here tonight against a good side. They’re a good footballing team. I know they’ve come off a couple of bad results, but they’ve got some good experience in their team and they’ve got some good quality as well.

"I thought they started the game very, very well and we struggled a little bit In the early parts of the first half. We had to dig a little bit deep. I felt like then we got into our rhythm a bit and gained some control, without really looking at our best and our finest.

"The goal comes at a good time for us, well-worked, straight off the training pitch, a set play. It got worked very well. We scored just at the right time.

"Then in the second half I thought the subs coming on helped in that. I thought they had a big impetus for us.

"Ben (Pearson) and then Jamal getting the goal for 2-0.

"In seasons, you sometimes need to grind things out and probably that’s what pleased me most tonight. Because I don’t think we were at our most fluid, but in saying that I see a group of men and team that needed to get the job done and we got the job done tonight."