Rodney McAree insists there are no panic alarms going off at Glentoran despite the club's drastic slump in form.
Tuesday's 1-0 defeat to Cliftonville was the latest title blow for Mick McDermott's side, who have gone from being invincible to looking like a side bereft of belief and confidence.
They have also lacked a cutting edge in front of goal, a problem McAree says is costing them vital points this season.
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And he believes his players need to show "greater desire" in the opposition's 18-yard box if they want to ignite their season again.
"In recent weeks I think we have played a lot worse than we did tonight. We showed a good hunger and desire between the two 18-yard boxes," the first-team coach said after Tuesday's loss at Solitude.
"But we need to show a greater desire in the opposition's 18-yard box to put away chances we created. On a few occasions the ball flashed across the Cliftonville six-yard box and we have to show more hunger to put it in the back of the net.
"If I didn't see that endeavour and hunger between the two penalty boxes, then I would be even more concerned. We needed someone tonight to take responsibility in the opposition's 18-yard box and go and take a chance.
"Whenever you play so-called big games, like this one, you have to take your chances. We are not getting results at this moment in time, and you can talk about injuries and sickness. But that happens to everyone.
"We can't use that as an excuse. We created enough half chances in tonight's game to get something out of it.
"Cliftonville had a five-minute spell where they put us under a bit of sustained pressure. And they created a half chance and it ends up in the back of our net.
"The shot was maybe going wide from Kris Lowe, but they got that little bit of fortune. They have forced it into the back of the net, and we didn't do that at Cliftonville's net.
"And we have to show a bigger hunger and desire if we want to pick up results."
He added: "We are not concerned when you see the quality. We work with these lads every day and the quality is there.
"We have to find a way of grinding a result out and kicking on from that. It didn't happen against Cliftonville, but I saw a hell of a better shift than I saw two weeks ago against Linfield.
"Our attitude was 100 times better than it was against Linfield. Our work rate was 100 times better.
"And you're playing against a good Cliftonville side who put you under pressure and close down the ball well.
"It was 0-0 for a long time but it was a decent, competitive game of football and I thought we competed and shaded it, up until that five-minute spell when Cliftonville scored the goal.
"It's what happens in either 18-yard penalty box and they took their opportunity, and we didn't take any of ours."
Glentoran have won just once in their last six league games, picking up four points from a possible 18.
It has seen the East Belfast men drop to fifth in the table, nine points behind leaders Larne but with two games in hand.
The absence of talismanic winger Conor McMenamin with a metatarsal injury has played its part in stalling their surge, while Jay Donnelly has failed to build any momentum in what has become a disjointed season for the 27-year-old.
Despite that pair's problems, McAree insists other players should be stepping up to the plate and seizing their chance.
"If centre forwards miss opportunities they do lose a bit of confidence. But ultimately Jay is a goalscorer and he will start scoring goals before the end of the season," he added.
"We have other guys who got an opportunity tonight and had half chances, but didn't show a big enough hunger to go and put the ball in the back of the net.
"It is difficult. Last season we relied heavily on Jay and Conor scoring a lot of goals. This year we obviously don't have Conor right now, and Jay is going through a barren spell.
"But it is then up to someone else to take up the responsibility and grab the game by the scruff of the net and go and make a hero of themselves.
"It doesn't have to be Jay and Conor - it can be anyone who has the desire to put the ball in the back of the net."
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