HEAD coach James Ford reckons York City Knights have bounced back "pretty well" from previous defeats - and can do so again this time.

The Knights' five-match winning streak in the Betfred Championship ended on Sunday in a 24-16 home defeat to Sheffield Eagles - only their second loss of term following the opening-day reverse to title favourites Toronto Wolfpack.

They also lost only twice in their entire 2018 League One campaign - when they responded by going on nine- and 15-match winning runs which led them to a thrilling title triumph.

Bouncing back from defeat is therefore a rare mental hurdle for Ford's team but, when asked if it would be difficult to lift themselves following Sunday's setback, Ford said: “Well we bounced back from the Toronto defeat pretty well.

“We will be really honest with ourselves in our review – and that’s the coaching staff as well as the players – and we will use this as something to learn from.

“We don’t like this – we don’t like this feeling. We much prefer winning and the emotions that come with that.”

Next up is a Coral Challenge Cup fourth round trip to Barrow. The Knights walloped the Raiders 56-0 at Bootham Crescent last month - ending a 13-match losing streak to the Cumbrians in some style - but they have not won at Craven Park since 2004.