STEVE Fletcher is warning Cherries to be ready for a backlash when they put their impressive away record on the line at Preston North End tomorrow.

The Lilywhites have slipped from second to ninth in League One after a run of seven successive victories were followed by a five-match winless sequence.

North End boss Phil Brown has seen his men ship no fewer than 10 goals in their past three matches and has labelled as “amateur” his side’s defending.

Relegated after finishing 22nd in the Championship, Preston twice conceded the lead during their 3-3 draw with Oldham in midweek, prompting unrest among sections of the Deepdale crowd.

Assistant boss Fletcher told the Echo: “They are a big club in this division and you would expect them to be in the mix at the end of the season.

“They are a good side and their squad is packed with players who have experience of playing in the Championship. You don’t win seven games in a row in this league without being a good team. That run proved they have got the calibre and ability to be battling for the title.

“They may have had a slight blip in recent weeks but we are anticipating as tough a game as we will have all season. Preston will be determined to get back on track and we must be ready for them.”

Fletcher says Cherries will take encouragement from their impressive display at Colchester where they extended to five their unbeaten run on the road.

“We deserved to win,” said Fletcher. “It was an excellent all-round performance and very professional. We should have buried them with the chances we had.

“It was good to see the lads were so disappointed at the end and there was dejection in the changing room. It hurt the boys to only take a point from Colchester when a lot of teams would be happy to get a draw there.

“We are making big strides in our away games and know we have got to turn a corner at home. We need to show the same desire, commitment and effort to keep the run going.”

Fletcher returns to the scene of some of his most memorable Cherries moments, his debut for the club coming during a 1-1 draw at Deepdale more than 19 years ago.

“It was a plastic pitch and I remember setting up our goal for Keith Rowland,” said the 39-year-old. “I have still got the programme!

“I have got a few good memories of the place. I scored there when we won 1-0 in 1996 and in 1999 and remember playing against David Moyes. I also played up front with Christer Warren when he scored the winner there in 1997. It is always a tough place to go.”

Cherries: (from) Flahavan, Peters, Cook, Barrett, Cummings, Pugh, Purches, Gregory, Malone, Fogden, Thomas, Symes, Sheringham, Fletcher, Carmichael, Molesley, Cooper, MacDonald, Stockley, Taylor, Jalal.

Lilywhites: (from) Turner, Gray, Carlisle, Devine, Alexander, Coutts, Mayor, Parry, Russell, Proctor, Tsoumonu, McLean, Daley, Nicholson, Ashbee, Barton, Mellor, Hume, Arestidou.