Linfield boss David Healy says both he and his team have been "pinned against a wall" following their sluggish start to the season.
Friday night's 3-0 loss to Glentoran has left the Blues trailing 10 points behind early leaders Larne, albeit with a game in hand.
The Blues have won just one of their last four Premiership games and have already suffered three defeats in the league this season.
Read more: Linfield boss Healy makes honest admission after Big Two defeat
Some would argue Healy's players have struggled to fully recover from their Europa Conference League play-off nightmare, with the agony of that penalty shootout loss carrying into the domestic campaign.
"It feels like we are pinned against the wall right now," he said.
"When that happens, and you feel as if you're under the cosh or under pressure there is only one way out. And that is fighting back in a professional manner.
"Am I pinned against the wall at the minute? And my team? I feel like that, because we are not at the level we need to be.
"It is sink or swim over the next 4-6 weeks and we need to come out fighting. We need to come out fitter and sharper and with improvements.
"And we need to come out hungrier, because we lacked that tonight."
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