ACCRINGTON Stanley may be taking on the League Two leaders at the Crown Ground tomorrow, but Michael Symes has declared: “We can beat anyone at home.”

Stanley are chasing a fourth successive home win for the first time in two-and-a-half years, having bagged 11 goals in their three recent triumphs, but tomorrow’s clash with Bournemouth is their biggest test yet.

Eddie Howe’s Cherries may be without a win in four games but they remain top of the table after a start to the season that has belied their ongoing financial problems.

Symes, though, remains confident on home soil – where Stanley have collected 12 of their 16 points this season.

“I think at home we’re doing very well, we just need to sort our away performances out,” said the striker.

“As long as we win our home games and sneak a couple of results away from home we can do well, but it’s easier said than done.

“I think we can beat anyone at home, though. We’re not afraid of anyone.”

Stanley have fond recollections of home matches against the Cherries, but for Symes the memories are not quite so sweet.

Stanley claimed a penalty shoot-out victory over Bournemouth to reach the third round of the FA Cup in 2003 and beat the same opponents 3-0 last November – with all three goals coming in the first 20 minutes – in one of their most memorable wins of the campaign.

Last year’s fixture was Symes’ debut for Bournemouth during a one-month loan from Shrewsbury.

Bournemouth had been deducted 17 points before last season and looked doomed to relegation, still 12 points adrift, after that Crown Ground defeat.

The turnaround since then has been remarkable, but Symes admits that day remained one of the low points of a frustrating season for him.

“It was my first game for them and it was strange because I only met the lads on the day,” said the 25-year-old, who has undergone his own revival to become a key part of the current Stanley team.

“It wasn’t good preparation really to go straight into the team without a day’s training.

“I thought I did all right myself, but we got beat so it was a bad day.

“But I always had belief in my ability and so far, so good for me this season. I’ve had a lot of injuries in my career so I’m just taking it one year at a time, though.

“I’ve got four goals so far this season but I could have had 10 with ease. I’ve set my own targets, which I’ll keep to myself, and I’ll just try to hit them.”