CHERRIES boss Scott Parker detailed the new look his side will take next campaign, sharing “we’ve had to adapt a little bit”.

In Saturday’s defeat to Bristol City, Cherries lined up with three central defenders, replicating the 5-2-3 formation utilised in the training match games in Portugal with Sheffield Wednesday and Braga at the start of pre-season.

It marks a departure from the four-man defence that helped Cherries earn promotion last term, but aside from the change in shape, Parker also revealed his side’s approach has had to change following their return to the top-flight.

Explaining the change in both shape and mentality, Parker began: “We’ve tried to work on that.

“We’ll definitely see less of the ball as a newly promoted team.

“Coming into the Premier League, an established league, the best league in the world, the levels have gone up tenfold.

“For sure we’re going to have to be a different team this year.

“Last year we dominated the ball, could assert ourselves constantly on the game. It will be different, my experiences of this league is that, in the same sort of circumstances.”

One of the more notable differences in the style of play from last season’s tactics was how quickly Cherries moved the ball out of defence, a strong contrast to the style that saw possession consolidated at the back.

“That’s exactly what we’ve tried to work on, tried to work on being comfortable out of possession,” shared Parker.

“You (saw against Bristol City) being comfortable in a block at times, and then trying to inject speed and pace on the counter-attack.

“The players have taken to that.

“Very different, of course, last year, a high-pressing team, a team with intensity.

“Obviously we’ve had to adapt that a little bit, and try and work on new things really. That’s exactly what we’ve done.”