Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate admits his side need to end their 'horrendous' run of form.
Boro are now without a league win in ten games and have sunk to just above the relegation zone.
They suffered a 3-0 defeat at West Brom on Saturday, and Southgate admits his side are suffering.
"We are in a fight, there is no question about that - we are in a horrendous run of form," he told Sky Sports.
"We have got to close ranks and make sure we are strong through this period - there is no other way out of it, we can't duck the situation we are in.
"I said to the players they have to stick together - everyone is going to be looking at us and we have to respond in the right way, today things have gone against us and we have missed crucial chances, if we had taken our chances we would have won the game."
Southgate was left far from happy with West Brom's opening goal as Chris Brunt was stood in an offside position before firing home via a deflection.
"He is offside, I can't for the life of me see how he isn't," he said.
"They say he isn't interfering with play but he has put the ball into the back of the net - he is offside simple as that."
He also felt that Didier Digard should not have been sent off in the second half, adding: "I think the red card is harsh and then you have two key decisions that have gone against us, you go a goal down as early as we did and it gives you a mountain to climb.
"We haven't finished our chances, we can't blame officials for results but there have been some crucial decisions go against us."
Afonso Alves was the main culprit when it came to Boro's misses and Southgate admitted he should have found the back of the net.
"He should have finished his chances, but we have lost because we didn't defend well enough as well and it is what happens in both boxes that decides matches," he said.
The Boro boss also admitted he was not immune from losing his job, and that chairman Steve Gibson could easily make a decision about him.
"He [Gibson] is the same as everyone else," he said.
"If he thinks things aren't right he will change it - there will be no sympathy, we have to make sure we get things right.
"I have said it before I am not bullet proof, we know the route forward and know what we have got to do.
"But this is a game you can highlight as one you can win and it is staggering really how the game has gone, but we have to take it on the chin - we have a tough game at Chelsea and we have to do it together and the lads have to be strong."
Southgate admits new arrivals remain unlikely this month.
"I don't think that is likely, we have known all season we don't have funds to spend," he continued.
"It is important to get the best out of what we have got, the good thing about today's game is that we created enough chances to win the game.
"We have had an awful run and are still in touching distance of some teams, but we can't look at other teams slipping up all the time."
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