DEFENDER Steve Cook shouldered his share of the blame for Cherries' defeat at Blackburn and then insisted: “I'll take it on the chin and learn from it.”

Cook was partly culpable as Rovers forged into a 2-0 lead through first-half goals from Jordan Rhodes and Grant Hanley at Ewood Park on Saturday.

The 23-year-old was brushed off by Rhodes for the opener before Hanley gave him the slip to head home the second - with goalkeeper Lee Camp arguably beaten too easily for both goals.

Camp, however, was powerless to stop the third with Craig Conway's long-range strike diverted past him by Rudy Gestede's clever flick as Rovers reached the break 3-0 in front.

Although a vastly-improved second-half display saw Cherries reduce the arrears through Brett Pitman's disputed penalty and Cook's finely-taken header, the visitors were unable to fashion an equaliser.

Cook told the Daily Echo: “We started really well and then I made a mistake for the first goal. My man scored from the second as well so I was gutted.

“The third goal was a deflection and we were left with an upward task having started so well and looked so comfortable. We nearly nicked a draw but it wasn't good enough overall.

“It was frustrating because we knew they would be quite direct. We played some decent stuff at times but gave ourselves too much to do and it was hard to take because the goals were so poor. On a personal note, I was very disappointed but I will learn from it.”

Cook, whose late header set up a grandstand finish, added: “We will take the positives. It was out of the blue and unlike us because we have started the season looking solid and strong.

“We feel we have come a long way and it was tough to take, especially for me because it is horrible making mistakes and, unfortunately, mine cost the team.

“But I will take it on the chin, go through the game with the manager and, hopefully, improve as a result of what happened.

“If you don't realise you have made mistakes, you are never going to learn. Everyone makes them and it is all about how you bounce back. I will.

“I made mistakes last season and felt I had a good season. I feel I am improving and, sometimes, games like this make you realise you still have a long way to go.”