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'Get back on the horse' - Parker's simple squad message ahead of struggling Barnsley

Barnsley are bottom of the Championship (Pic: PA)
Barnsley are bottom of the Championship (Pic: PA)

CHERRIES head coach Scott Parker has warned his side that if they visit Barnsley with any complacency, “you’re going to come on the end of one,” despite the Tykes’ struggles.

Cherries visit the side currently bottom of the Championship table, with just 14 points from their opening 26 matches of the season.

Poya Asbaghi is yet to taste league victory as manager of the club, with Barnsley’s last win in the division coming on November 3 versus Derby County.

However, Parker’s side have a mini-slump of their own to address with two consecutive defeats seeing them forfeit their place in the automatic promotion spots, for now.

Although he reveals that he has seen a reaction from his players, he has told them that “getting back on the horse” is the most important thing this weekend.

“I’ve seen that constantly throughout the season to be honest with you,” Parker said of that group response, speaking ahead of the Yorkshire visit.

“When we were on a 16 unbeaten run I saw a team that were very focussed and they understand the processes that need to be put into place.

“You need to be brave in these moments and I see that now, we are on a bit of a blip but this is what happens and it’s how we react and how we regain that form, getting back on the horse as such, is going to be key for us.

“Two defeats, we need to get back to winning ways and put a run together as we have shown this season we can do.”

Assessing the threat posed by the hosts, he added: “It's a tough game at the weekend, going against a team that have struggled, are in and around the bottom of the table.

“We’re going in there where we’re currently sitting in the table and this is a massive game.

“There is no easy game in this division, even more so if you go with a complacency or a given right you’re going to come on the end of one.

“This is tough for us in our current climate, we need a result and need to act in the right way.”