WADE Elliott believes Cherries' inspired run of away form this season is merely symptomatic of the side's burgeoning confidence.

In Coca-Cola League One, no other side can match Sean O'Driscoll's men's record on the road. And in the entire Football League, only Championship leaders Wigan Athletic can top Cherries' tally on their travels.

While there has rarely been little worry over their form at Dean Court in recent seasons, points away from home have often proved harder to come by.

But their 16-point haul on their travels so far this campaign means it is their best away start to a league season since 1981-82.

And successive victories at Torquay, Oldham and Peterborough means it is the first time in over three-and-a-half years that they have recorded three back-to-back away successes in the league.

Elliott, who has missed just two away trips this term, said: "We haven't ever sat down and said 'we're away from home so we'll do this differently'.

"But for the last few seasons, we've been picking up our away form and we have got plenty of goals in the team which brings a lot of confidence.

"Our home form has been terrific and we can over-run teams, but that is not always the case away from home. The home side comes on to you and as the away side you don't make as many chances.

"But we always go away thinking we can get a result. If we get into a lead, we know how to defend it. For example at Oldham, their manager (Brian Talbot) said afterwards he thought they had most of the game after we went in front, but I thought we were comfortable in defending what we had.

"As a whole, the team has defended terrifically.

"The attacking players have been taking the plaudits but the defence at Sheffield Wednesday were throwing their bodies in the way of shots and there was some great defending at Peterborough and that means you can nick those 1-0 wins."

Cherries will be taking their away form forward into Saturday's FA Cup first round tie at Nationwide Conference strugglers Forest Green Rovers.

And while O'Driscoll's side is high on confidence, Rovers' home record is the worst in the Conference.

But Elliott warned: "It will be a tight little ground with a corking atmosphere and our league form is not so relevant then.

"But hopefully our recent experiences, like last season at Accrington, can stand us in good stead and we can come away with a positive result."