ANTONY Sweeney has enjoyed a career high at Wycombe Wanderers - on Saturday he experienced one of the lows.

Tonight he comes up against the man who helped bring a slice of that Hartlepool United success.

Ritchie Barker, now the manager of this evening's opponents Bury, headed Pools to promotion at Adams Park in 2007.

After being thumped 5-0 there at the weekend, Sweeney - one of two players to swerve the critical comments of boss Neale Cooper - is expecting a positive response this evening.

"Tuesday is against Ritchie Barker's side and he was someone who did so well when he was with us,'' he recalled. "He was here two years, a really good lad who helped us get promoted and back into this division.

"It's nice to see him doing well there at Bury, but hopefully he has a bad night on Tuesday.''

Sweeney added: "We have conceded eight goals against Wycombe this season, they are at the bottom of the league and it's not good enough.

"I don't think any team can have aspirations of doing well if that's going to happen.

"We have to come here and grind out wins. Wycombe brought four in on loan which has lifted them and they played well.

"We were poor, but they played well and gave us a real tough game no matter how badly we played and how many goals we gifted them.''

Sweeney added: "This could be a reality check for us, we have been doing well and team who do well see these as one-offs and make sure they bounce back quickly.

"I'm sure there's enough characters in the dressing room to make sure it is a one off and we will come out positive on Tuesday.

"We will bounce back on Tuesday and we will be better than that, we can't be any worse.''

Sweeney could be joined by Gary Liddle in midfield at Gigg Lane. He was absent on Saturday after failing to recover from the calf injury suffered against Notts County the previous week.

If Liddle doesn't make it, Jack Baldwin can expect a start alongside Sweeney and Paul Murray.

Baldwin's second-half substitute outing avoided criticism, but as for the rest, Cooper demands much more this evening after the biggest defeat of his two spells in charge of Pools.

"I saw the dark side having only seen the good side so far,'' he reflected.

"I couldn't believe I was watching the same thing I have been for the past two months.

"You can't fault the effort of these boys but it was a dark day.

"I hope it hurts because I don't want boys who aren't hurting after a game like that.

"But I've said my bit and we can go and win at Bury on Tuesday and that will be the perfect tonic for the team.''

He added: "We'll have to wait and see with Gary Liddle but James Poole needs a game in the reserves on Wednesday.

"But James Poole couldn't have played well in that team - Pele couldn't have played well in it!

"I played in a game like that against Dundee United, five goals going on ten, and as the goals go in the energy levels just drop and the boys tire.''