AFC Bournemouth
Skipper Steve Cook is demanding an immediate response as AFC Bournemouth look to get their promotion push back on track.
The Cherries surrendered their unbeaten record at Vitality Stadium on Tuesday when Championship rivals Preston North End triumphed 3-2.
Jason Tindall’s team netted twice in the final 19 minutes but were unable to claw back a three-goal deficit as they suffered a second league defeat of the season.
The reverse came on the back of a four-match unbeaten run, which started after they had lost for the first time at Sheffield Wednesday at the start of November.
Tindall’s squad return to South Yorkshire to meet Barnsley on Friday, the first of two tough away games in five days with a trip to Swansea to follow on Tuesday.
Cook netted a dramatic injury-time winner on the Cherries’ last visit to Oakwell in March 2014, his goal sparking a five-match winning run which saw them go close to making the play-offs in their first season back in the second flight.
While the Cherries were beaten by the Tykes in the League Cup and FA Cup in 1998/99, their last league defeat at the venue came in November 1988 – before Cook was born!
Ahead of the clash (5.30pm kick-off), captain Cook told afcb.co.uk: “We were disappointed with the performance against Preston on Tuesday.
“Conceding three goals against any team always leaves you with a mountain to climb and we were punished, even if we rallied to get a couple back.
“We have now lost two games to teams who were in the bottom half of the table when we played them and that tells you everything you need to know about this division.
“It’s a cliché, but everyone can beat everyone and there is very little between the teams at the top and bottom.
“We need to bounce back against Barnsley in what will be another tough game. They had a good win at Birmingham on Tuesday so will be confident.
“We know how competitive this league is and have seen that in every game so far. Barnsley will be no different and we need to be ready for them which we will be.”
Cook has fond memories of his last visit to Oakwell when his winner, in the fourth minute of stoppage time, gave him his second goal in the Championship.
“I remember it was a real battle,” added the 29-year-old. “Barnsley were fighting for their lives and our fortunes had improved significantly after a tough baptism in the Championship.
“We were on a good run when we went there and that victory gave us a great deal of impetus for the rest of the season.
“We only lost a couple of our final ten games and missed out on the play-offs by six points in the end.
“The margins are so small in this division, we know that better than anyone after what happened when we won the title in 2015.
“Although it could have been better, in the main, we’ve had a good start and we need to get back to playing how we know we can, starting at Barnsley on Friday.”