OLD habits die hard for Jason Pearce. Cherries’ combative and competitive skipper has never been one to give an inch.

In a nutshell, Pearce hates losing.

However, since locking horns with Marvin Bartley on the PlayStation, it is something Pearce has reluctantly been forced to get used to.

“I hate to say it,” admits Pearce. “But Marv is top man on FIFA 11. I just can’t beat him and it really gets to me.”

In his regular jousts with Bartley, Pearce appears to have become a victim of mirroring on his computer console his playing style on the pitch.

“I just can’t stop defending!” laughs Pearce. “And, believe it or not, Marv is better than me at finishing!

“He’s good but I will beat him eventually. I am one of the better FIFA 11 players!

“Marc Pugh is trying to set up a league and we’re hoping to get all the lads to join in. It’s only me and him at the moment – and I’m top of the table!”

A reliable team-mate and fearsome opponent, the 22-year-old has belied his tender years since being handed the Cherries captaincy in January.

Pearce’s winning instincts have served him and Cherries well, the defensive colossus blossoming under the tutelage of Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall.

Similar to Howe in both character and playing style, it was perhaps no surprise when the manager offered him the armband.

Although his reign started with back-to-back defeats by Bury and Aldershot, Pearce has since presided over a 16-match unbeaten league run at Dean Court, with injury robbing him of his place in three of those games last season.

Sandwiched between the impressive sequence, he became the youngest player to skipper the club to promotion, eclipsing 23-year-olds Carl Fletcher in 2003 and Keith Miller in 1971.

Pearce, who also spends his free time genning up on house restoration, said: “Good home form is pivotal to any success. Our supporters have been great and, hopefully, our home performances have given them something to be proud of.

“We’re starting to show what we’re about.

“The manager has given us freedom to play our football and the first half against Sheffield Wednesday was the best we had played all season.

“We’re still a young team. We’re getting to where we want to be but it takes time.

“We’ve started the season really well, probably better than a lot of people would have expected. It’s a tight league, but, to be honest, I didn’t think we would be second after 13 games.

“But we are and we are there on merit. The squad is good and we are hungry to prove ourselves. We are showing that at the moment and have got to keep it going.”

Not content with just captaining Cherries to second place in League One, Pearce, who lives in Eastleigh with girlfriend Charlotte, is also a busy man on matchdays: “I provide the music for the dressing room and speak in the pre-match huddle.

“Most of the lads seem to like my taste in music, although the manager and Jason aren’t too keen and Fletch pretends he likes it! At the moment, we’re listening to Katy B and the Swedish House Mafia.

“Fletch and Lee Bradbury have shown me the ropes about speaking in the huddle. I’m fairly off the cuff and may adapt a few things depending on who we’re playing. Fletch will speak afterwards and he always says some really good things, win, lose or draw.

“People think I’m older than 22 but I don’t feel it. It’s an honour and a privilege to be captain. I love being part of something and feel we’re going forward as a club.”