Jan Paul van Hecke has discussed the prospect of Brighton being dragged into a relegation battle this season.
The Seagulls have won just one of their last 13 Premier League matches, tasting defeat against Crystal Palace and Everton most recently.
The poor run of form leaves Fabian Hurzeler’s side seven points above the relegation zone, with the likes of West Ham and Leeds United – who were both tipped to face the drop this season – starting to find their rhythm.
The prospect of a cup run turning the tide on Brighton’s fortunes has also been crushed, with the Seagulls being comfortably beaten 3-0 by Liverpool in the FA Cup over the weekend.
Speaking to BBC Sussex after the loss on Merseyside, Van Hecke was asked whether he feels his side are now in a relegation battle, to which he replied: “Well, you also need to be realistic, and, of course, we’re still a fair way (away) – eight, seven points – so it’s not like we’re really, really in there.
“But you need to be careful to come in there because if you keep doing the same things, and you keep making the same mistakes, then in the end, you don’t win games, and that’s why we need to turn it around, and I can guarantee everyone is working really, really hard for that.”
The Dutchman, who has impressed throughout the campaign despite Brighton’s defensive frailties, went on to demand an improved attitude from his teammates ahead of important clashes with Brentford and Nottingham Forest.
He concluded: “We need to change something in attitude in certain moments in the game, that you need to be more ruthless. It’s for us now to keep going and make sure we give everything, and myself as well, to make sure I keep giving everything as I try to do, and hopefully everyone’s in the same boat.”