SCOTT Parker revealed a "constant message" to his Cherries players after their opening-day Premier League win, insisting “let’s take this chance” in the top flight.

The Dorset club, written off by many pundits this season ahead of kick-off, secured a 2-0 triumph over Steven Gerrard’s Villains, thanks to goals from Jefferson Lerma and Kieffer Moore.

Moore, along with Jordan Zemura, Marcus Tavernier, Ben Pearson and Ryan Christie, all made their Premier League debuts in the success.

Asked whether he was pleased those players showed the nous and knowhow to see victory over the line, Parker told the Daily Echo: “That was the most important thing for me.

“The most important thing was this is a young side, even players who had been in the Premier League had not been in it over a consistent period.

“The constant message I’d give to this group is let’s take this chance, let’s take our opportunities, do not let this sink us.

“Don’t let the occasion or quality of what we are playing against – it’s a name on someone’s back – whatever club it is, it’s all irrelevant.

“There’s a certain ingredient to what we can bring.

“I played 20 years as a player and I stuck by those principles. Respect? Of course, I have respect. I had respect for everyone I was on the football field against or with.

“But there wasn’t any respect when it came to me and what I wanted to do in terms of dominating and a passion and a desire about me – it was something I lived and died by.

“That’s what makes me so happy. I see that in my team.”

Next up for Cherries is a trip to Manchester City on Saturday.