STEVE Cook says Cherries will “fight to the death” to make sure they are playing Premier League football next season.

A courageous performance against Manchester City on Monday night was not enough to prevent Eddie Howe’s side from suffering a 2-0 defeat, a result which extended to six games their winless top-flight run.

But Cook insisted Cherries “couldn’t have done much more” in their encounter with Pep Guardiola’s side and urged the club and its fans to present a united front in their bid to climb away from trouble.

Cook told the Daily Echo: “We are in a tough run but this is where we will need everyone.

“There is no point in becoming negative or turning against each other.

“That is not what this club is about. That is not why we have got to where we are.

“If we have that unity, I am sure the win will come.

“We are still very positive. I want the fans to know that. They need to be positive. You read little things and it’s not what we need.

“Hopefully, the fans can see that we ran our socks off against a very good Manchester City side, which cost millions and millions of pounds.

“We have worked so hard to be able to play against these sort of teams.

“And we will fight to the death to make sure we are playing against these teams next year.”

Cook admits that psychologically combating the frustration of poor results will be vital in order to spark an upturn.

And the defender, whose own terrific form has not suffered in line with his team’s dip, says it is up to him and a select band of fellow seasoned Cherries to drag their side out of its trough.

“It is not about me, it is about the team and us getting ourselves out of this rut we’re in,” said Cook.

“I feel like I’m one of the leaders now in this team. I can’t be sulking, I have to be positive.

“Me, Simon Francis, Andrew Surman, Harry Arter – we have been here a long time and I think the lads will be looking to us to keep the team going.

“When I am at home it is hard to keep going. Some days I am down.

“But I don’t take it into training, because myself and the lads need to keep the boys going. And we definitely are. No heads have dropped.”

City’s first goal at Vitality Stadium was the product of a deflection off Cook which ran perfectly for Raheem Sterling to score.

And Cherries’ cause was further sabotaged by first-half injuries to Francis and Jack Wilshere.

“That summed up our luck at the moment,” continued Cook.

“But we fought for everything, you saw a side that left nothing out on the pitch. We could not have done much more.

“Hopefully, we are not going to be judged on losing to Manchester City. If we all stick together: the team, the town and all the fans, we will be okay.”