Rafa Benitez admits his biggest challenge at the moment is keeping his Newcastle United players motivated.
With nothing to play for but pride the season is in danger of fizzling out for the Magpies.
United take on title hopefuls Liverpool next weekend before a clash with relegated Fulham on the final day of the season.
After the 1-1 draw with Brighton, Benitez said: "It's strange because last year we were safe with five games to play, then we lost four in a row.
“We were trying but when you have the relief that we have done our job, normally people relax a little bit.
“At Brighton it could have been like that, but we started really well, and I thought that we could get the three points in the way that we were playing and managing the situation.”
Brighton were woeful in the first half and Newcastle didn’t take advantage of that situation.
Former Toon boss Chris Hughton fired his players up in the second half and Pascal Gross netted what was probably a deserved equaliser on the balance of play after the break.
Benitez said: “In the second half it was more realistic in terms of what they had to do, and how you have to defend.
“It was a pity for us not to make a few passes to be more dangerous in the counter-attack."
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