SCOTT Parker insisted he had no clue about Huddersfield Town initially closing the gap in the race for automatic promotion – before Cherries offered an immediate response.

The third-placed Terriers sealed a 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough in the early kick-off on Teesside thanks to goals from Naby Sarr and Jordan Rhodes.

That meant they briefly sat one point behind Cherries, having played three games more.

But the Dorset club stamped their authority on the race for second spot with a 3-0 win at Coventry, thanks to a brace from Dominic Solanke after Jamal Lowe’s opener.

Asked whether he, or his players, knew about the Huddersfield result before their game, Parker replied: “I didn’t know – you just told me. I didn’t even know now, to be fair!

“I’m sure maybe the players did but I don’t need to know.

“There was a job to do today and that was to win this game – like there will be for the remaining five games.

“It’s irrelevant what other teams do. I constantly say that. I’m not too fussed.

“What’s important is we maintain focus and we maintain performance.”

Cherries’ next test comes against league leaders Fulham at Vitality Stadium on Saturday.