HEAD coach Scott Parker insisted Cherries have “done incredible to be where they are” at this stage of the season – as the pressure ramps up towards the business end of the campaign.

Ryan Christie’s second-half goal earned the Dorset club a 1-1 draw against bottom side Peterborough at Vitality Stadium – a result which took them second in the Championship.

But with 22 shots on target in comparison to six from Posh, Parker admitted his side needed to convert more of their opportunities.

Asked how he could find a solution for stages of games drifting by, he replied: “I’m not sure. That’s my job. I need to exactly work out what the reason is.

“Listen, we are at the nitty-gritty point of the season and the pressure ramps up massively.

“I definitely think there’s may be a psychological expectation, which is a little bit puzzling for me.

“Maybe we are a victim in that in terms of where we are. But this is where we are and we need to relish that, 22 shots today.

“I don’t think anyone can say we are not getting in right areas.

“But where we can be critical is two on target. It’s not good enough. We can’t suffocate a team like we are doing and not converting at times.

“I also think there’s a little element where – like I said – this is the part of the season pressure ramps up and we need to handle and relish the pressure because we worked tirelessly hard.

“This team have done incredible to be where they are.

“And I will not have anyone say anything different, no matter what the expectancy is.

“This team are second in this division and have done incredibly well.

“I just sense the pressure is ramping up and may be that’s an element of that. I need to address that, I need to take that off them.”

Cherries host Derby County at Vitality Stadium on Saturday (3pm).