Crystal Palace player-coach Kevin Phillips concedes they face an uphill battle to beat the drop.
Palace are expected to name their new manager next week.
"It's an unforgiving league," he told the Daily Express. "And we knew it would be difficult for us this season.
"I said to the lads after the final to enjoy this while you can because three or four months down the line things can easily change. At the moment it is not great. But we are still doing a job that we all love and have to turn up every day and always give it our best."
