BOSS Scott Parker insists Cherries' first league defeat of the season offers the opportunity to "develop" his squad, adding: "These are the moments that test people."

After their superb start to the Championship campaign, Parker's men lost their 16th second-tier match of the campaign, going down 2-1 to Preston North End at Vitality Stadium on Wednesday night.

It brought to an end a club-record unbeaten start to a league season, breaking the previous record set in the 1961-62 campaign.

But Parker believes the setback will help his squad grow, with Cherries still top of the table, two points clear of nearest challengers Fulham.

Asked if nights like Wednesday are the moments which his squad learn the most from, Parker said: "Yeah definitely. You expect me to say that, but it’s true.

"It’s very easy winning football matches or 15 unbeaten, you often find that the train just rolls and you don’t really get to know what your team is about, or how much you can improve.

"We’ve got a very good habit of analysing things, but certainly in adversity or when things go wrong, that’s when you can really gauge or you can develop a team.

"You can develop individuals because these are the moments that test people. I say test people. We’ve lost one game out of 16 and we’ve had an incredible start to the season, so I’m very steady and very level in my thinking in what I’m saying.

"But of course it’s the first time we’ve experienced this, so now we’ll improve, we’ll get better for this and we’ll go again."

Asked if he expects to see a reaction from his team when Swansea City visit Vitality Stadium on Saturday, Parker added: "I saw a reaction on Wednesday night. I see that, go a goal down, reaction, bang, 1-1. Go 2-1 down and of course while you don’t want to concede goals, I see a reaction then.

"A team that was trying everything in their powers to try and get back in the game and miss a big chance with Jamal (Lowe), of course. So a reaction now, which we’ll get."