NEIL Young has issued his Cherries team-mates with a captain's rallying call: "It's time to stand up and be counted."

Kevin Bond's troops have again been plunged into the mire following two potentially-damaging defeats at Blackpool and Northampton.

And skipper Young knows Cherries must quickly turn the tide if they are to secure their League One status during a tough run-in.

Young will be hoping to lead from the front when Cherries host play-off chasing Millwall at Dean Court on Saturday (3pm).

He told the Daily Echo: "We know we've got to perform better than we did in our past two games and get out of this torrid run of winning two and then losing two.

"We need to get a bit of consistency. We've proved we can play good football and create chances so now we've got to get it right on the day."

The Lions arrive in Dorset on the back of a superb run which has seen them win 10 of their past 14 games and climb from one off the bottom to 10th place.

Young added: "They are flying so we know it's going to be a tough game and we've all got to pull together.

"Their front two are both very good players. Darren Byfield is firing on all cylinders so he's going to be one to watch for us and Neil Harris is a handful as well.

"They have both been around this league for a while and are players we know and have played against before. We know they are good but we know what we've got to do."

Cherries slipped to 20th following Bradford's unexpected 3-2 win at Bristol City in midweek and will drop into the bottom four if Chesterfield avoid defeat at Swansea on Friday night.

Young said: "I don't think too many people would have given Bradford a chance of beating Bristol City so it just goes to show what can happen at this stage of the season.

"Everyone is beating everyone else which is why we've got to concentrate on our own performances and results and not rely on others."

Boss Bond described Cherries' defending as "disastrous and diabolical" at Northampton and also said his three centre-halves "didn't instil me with a whole lot of confidence".

Young, one of the trio, said last night: "The manager wasn't happy and made his feelings known to us afterwards. There were a few harsh words in the changing room, and, to be fair, he wasn't wrong."

Cherries: (from) Moss, Cooper, Broadhurst, Young, Gowling, Cummings, Purches, Wilson, Hollands, McGoldrick, Hayter, Fletcher, Pitman, Standing, Walker, Anderton, Vokes, Stewart.

Millwall: (from) Pidgeley, Senda, Robinson, Shaw, Craig, Dunne, Elliott, Brammer, Brighton, Harris, Byfield, Hubertz, Hackett, Ardley, Zebroski, Day.