INSPIRATIONAL skipper Adam Barrett believes Cherries’ battling qualities can see them pull clear of the League One relegation zone.

Barrett, commanding during the midweek draw at Colchester, will again be looking to lead from the front when Cherries travel to Preston North End tomorrow.

The 31-year-old defender told the Daily Echo: “I thought we played really well at Colchester and the application was fantastic. We got punished for one small mistake and that seems to be the way things are going for us at the moment.

“But we have got to take a lot of positives from the game and our away form has been good. We could quite easily have a lot more points on the board and I think we are a better team than where we are. We know there have been games when we haven’t been good enough but, with a little more luck, we could have had more points.

“The team has been put together this season and I think we have seen an improvement. We have got to keep fighting, scrapping and showing determination and I believe things will turn for us. There is a lot of character in the squad and we want to get away from the bottom.”

Barrett, who looks set to have another central defensive partner in new loan signing Steve Cook at Deepdale, added: “Until we start pulling clear, we are in a fight at the bottom. The attitude was excellent at Colchester and we have got to take that into every game.

“We have got to roll up our sleeves and dig in. We have got to take the same mentality and determination to Preston. We are five unbeaten away from home and there is no reason why we can’t go there and get a win. I feel we are one result from turning this around. Everyone is working extremely hard to put it right.”