SKIPPER Shaun Cooper insists Cherries will remain positive after their survival bid took a turn for the worse yesterday.

Cherries were plunged back into the relegation mire after Billy Clarke struck to earn League Two leaders Brentford a 1-0 win at Dean Court.

Clarke’s 41st-minute header completed a miserable Easter for Cherries as their Football League status was left hanging by a thread.

Eddie Howe’s side failed to break down the Bees after defender Darren Powell had been sent off for fighting team-mate Karleigh Osborne five minutes into the second half.

And with fellow strugglers Chester and Grimsby both winning, Howe’s men are now just a point ahead of the drop zone, with three games remaining.

Cherries visit Chester on Saturday and host Grimsby on April 25 before bringing the curtain down on the season at Morecambe on May 2.

Captain Cooper told the Daily Echo: “We’re gutted. But you’ve got to give them credit because they did really well. It’s notoriously difficult against 10 men and, although we spent most of the second half in their half, we just couldn’t break them down.

“The lads are still positive. We did well to come back from minus 17 points and we’re disappointed to get sucked back in.

“But we still believe we can do it and nobody is panicking. We will keep our heads up and keep going.”

Cherries boss Howe, whose squad has still not been paid their March salaries, said: “I thought it was a good, competitive game. They did well in the first half, stamped their authority on the game and took it to us.

“We defended and competed well but probably backed off a little and I felt our distances weren’t quite right.

“Chester and Grimsby are fighting for their lives, like we are. It was always going to be like that. We have to respond now and there is no better opportunity than against the teams that are with us. Our fate will be decided by ourselves.”

Brentford manager Andy Scott said: “I thought Bournemouth were a committed side, which is what we expected, and Eddie has done a fantastic job.”

A late change to the team-sheet saw goalkeeper Ryan Pryce replace striker Alan Connell in the Cherries squad.