This archive report was first published on 28 December 2019.
December 28, 2019, marked a dismal day for Bournemouth as they suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion, leaving them two points above the Premier League drop zone.
Despite injuries to key players, Bournemouth captain Steve Cook emphasized that the team's poor performance was not an excuse for their perilous position.
Cook called on his teammates to 'step up' and lead the team, highlighting the need for the squad to understand the magnitude of their situation.
'The two teams were worlds apart today. Something has to change,' Cook told Sky Sports. 'Individuals have to step up, especially the leaders.'
He added, 'It's not down to quality but how brave enough people are going to be to want stay in this league. The lads who are fit have to pull something out of the bag.'
Manager Eddie Howe also acknowledged the challenges faced by the team, citing the need for squad rotation during the busy festive period.
'With a small squad the Christmas period is the ultimate test and you need to rotate players,' Howe said. 'It's very difficult to ask players to go twice in three days.'
Bournemouth are next away to fellow strugglers West Ham United on Wednesday.
