Despite a difficult run of form, Paul Gallagher insists the squad must keep believing in themselves.
North End were beaten 2-0 by Aston Villa at Deepdale, in a game where two more defenders added to the long list of injuries in defence for Alex Neil's side.
Josh Earl and Calum Woods were replaced at half-time, the duo both picking up knee injuries in the first half, and on the defensive injuries, Gallagher said: "I've never seen anything like it, especially in one position. The list goes on but to be fair that boys that came in, Andy Boyle has been patient and did very well, and Browney went back to centre half and he's done very well again.
"We have got to roll our sleeves up, we've got to dig in, we've got a tough game at Ipswich but we've got to keep believing and try and bounce back."
On the character in the dressing room, the 33-year-old continued: "This is when you see how good your character and your team spirit is. It's ok when things are rosy and you're playing pretty football and everything is going for you. These are times where you've got to roll your sleeves up and dig in, even just a 1-0 win where you score off someone's backside, that's the bit of luck you need.
"I have confidence in all of the players in that dressing rooms, they want to win football games and luckily for us another game comes quite quickly."
Gallagher felt that Steve Bruce's side showed their experience in tonight's game, and admits it will be a learning curve for some of PNE's younger players.
"They've got experienced players who have played at the highest level, we gave away two sloppy goals and if you give any team those goals it's an uphill battle. Especially a team like Aston Villa, they've got players who can manage the game and you could see the experienced players in there organising. For Terry and Chester it was like there was a magnet on their head, they were getting in the way and they are calm on the ball.
"We have a lot of young players in there and it's probably the first time they've had a few defeats on the bounce but we will roll our sleeves up and go again."
It was Gallagher's first appearance in a North End shirt since the start of mid-September, after suffering with an injury and an illness, and on a personal note, the midfielder was pleased to be back on the pitch.
"It was nice to get on, from a personal point of view. I was trying to get on the ball, put balls in and have a bit of quality and for whatever reason it wasn't to be tonight.
"This football club has got a good team spirit and we are going to need it now. All the lads that are out injured, it's not nice seeing the injury list that long but hopefully we can try and get a few back as quick as we can. If not, the lads that come in know that they have to step up and take their chance."
Watch the full interview with Gallagher on iFollow PNE by clicking on the video above.