Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert is well aware that his side is now deeply embroiled in a relegation battle.
The Villans were beaten 2-0 by fellow strugglers Hull City on Tuesday night which was their fifth Premier League loss in a row, extending their winless run to 10 matches.
The defeat saw Villa drop to 18th on the table, having scored just one goal in their past eight fixtures, suggesting to Lambert that his team is now up against with 13 matches remaining in the 2014/15 season.
"We are in a fight," he told Sky Sports.
"I have said it to the lads. They know it. There is still a lot of football to be played.
"We just have to go out to win the next game. I've said to the lads there's two ways to go - you can meet it head on or you buckle.
"Make sure you don't buckle for your own career. It's the biggest 13 games of their careers coming up."
Villa's next game poses as a must-win meeting with 10th-placed Stoke City at Villa Park on Saturday, February 21.
