Simo Valakari admitted St Johnstone will probably need to be perfect for the remainder of the season to avoid relegation.
Saints lost 3-2 to Motherwell in the first match since the league split and, with four games to play, remain six points adrift of second-bottom Ross County.
Boss Valakari said: “We were in a difficult situation before the match and now we’re in an even more difficult situation.
“We need some other results to go our way. But the key thing is, still, that we need to win our own matches.
“If we can’t do that, it’s goodbye. I would say that we need to win all four almost – and the next two are at home.
“There’s no time to feel sorry for ourselves. The heads were not down after the game. The players were very upbeat. We don’t have any other choice. The fight is still on.”
An attack-minded Perth side took the lead through Makenzie Kirk after six minutes.
However, in a brief period typical of their season, they conceded two goals within a minute towards the end of the first half through Callum Slattery and a Sven Sprangler own goal.
Tom Sparrow’s strike three minutes into the second half gave Motherwell breathing space.
Saints rallied through Elliot Watt scoring on his first appearance in two months but, despite using strikers Uche Ikpeazu and Benji Kimpioka off the bench, the equaliser remained elusive.
Valakari confessed that the capitulation late in the first period was ruinous to hopes of starting the post-split stage with victory.
“It’s the story of our season,” he said: “It’s difficult to win when you concede three goals, especially in a short period like that. You can’t have these black five minutes that we have.”
Fringe players Taylor Steven, Josh McPake and substitute Watt were the Perth side’s best contributors.
“I thought our left side of Taylor and Josh were very good,” he said.
“They have been training well. I’m so pleased they played a good game.
“Elliot Watt hadn’t been playing much but he has been training well too and waiting for his moment.”
Motherwell moved up to seventh place above Hearts and seven points above the relegation play-off spot.
Wimmer said: “I’m happy and proud that we won. It was a very tough and very tight game.
“I was satisfied with the last 25 minutes of the first half then we started again very well for 3-1. But we have a lot more work and developing to do.”
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