Ballymena United boss David Jeffrey accepts his struggling Sky Blues have to get back to winning ways soon to avoid sleepwalking their way into the dropzone.
The Braidmen, who lie ninth in the table, have lost their last seven league games and are now just nine points clear of Warrenpoint Town in the relegation playoff spot.
It has been an injury-plagued campaign to forget so far for United and with 10 league games left, Jeffrey knows top-flight safety can never be taken for granted.
Asked if Ballymena, who finished runners-up last season, are safe from the spectre of relegation, the experienced coach said: “No, absolutely not.
“Anyone who starts thinking you’re too good to go down only needs to look at Manchester United in the early-1970s when they were relegated.”
In 1974, a Manchester side featuring George Best, who had been lured back to Old Trafford by boss Tommy Docherty, and Sammy McIlroy, suffered a shock drop to the second tier of English football.
It still stands as one of the grimmest and forgettable periods in the history of the Manchester club, although they would return as Second Division champions 12 months later.
Jeffrey added: “In this league, on any given day, any team can beat any other team and the reality is we have had a really horrible year where nothing has gone for us.
“It is a tough time, but I can’t fault the players’ effort and application. If we can cut out the mistakes and take our chances, we will start winning games of football again.”
Ballymena, who suffered a heavy 4-1 loss to league leaders Linfield last weekend, travel to Cliftonville on Saturday seeking their first Premiership win of the calendar year.
“We’ve just got to concentrate on the next fixture, take it one game at a time and try to get three points from Solitude,” said Jeffrey.
“That’s what we did against Linfield and for large parts of that game, we did an awful lot of good things. It wasn't a 4-1 scoreline by any stretch, but you can’t make the mistakes we did.”
Elsewhere on Saturday, Glentoran will look to get back to winning ways and close the gap on Linfield to six points when they travel to face Glenavon at Mourneview Park.
The Glens have taken just four points from their last four games, including a scoreless home draw with Carrick Rangers last Friday night.
Larne, who have won their last five games in all competitions, travel to Warrenpoint Town while Carrick host Dungannon Swifts who are six points above the drop zone in 10th.
SATURDAY’S FIXTURES: Institute v Coleraine (1pm), Carrick Rangers v Dungannon Swifts; Cliftonville v Ballymena United; Glenavon v Glentoran; Larne v Warrenpoint Town.
