Midfielder Flynn Downes says the dressing room remains positive that the gap to safety can still be bridged, despite the 3-0 Boxing Day defeat at QPR stretching the divide to seven points.
"It was a tough one to take, we were right in the game and obviously a few mistakes just killed us and on the day they were more clinical in the box. We’ll just have to move on to the next one,” the 19-year-old said.
In addition to the defeat at Loftus Road, results elsewhere went against the Blues, adding a further three points to the gap to safety.
"It’s a bit of a blow,” the academy product admitted. "But all the boys and all the staff are still positive.
"We’re still in the fight and when January comes and the gaffer gets some new players in we’ll go from there."
Asked whether seven points might be too much to make up, he insisted: "No, the changing room after the QPR game was still very positive and it’s football, anything can happen. Mistakes at any level will cost you so we need to cut them out.”
Midfielder Jon Nolan made the error which led to QPR’s first goal and Downes says he feels for the former Shrewsbury man having made a costly mistake of his own at Hull earlier in the season.
"That’s football,” the Brentwood-born schemer reflected. "Anything can happen. I did it earlier on in the season and I know how it feels. You just have to look forward and go again.
Downes believes Nolan has what it takes to establish himself at Championship level: "Definitely. All of the new lads have been unbelievable and I think when the gaffer’s come in he’s got everyone playing which makes it that bit easier. I think everyone’s playing well at the minute.”
Despite his youth, Downes has been a regular in central midfield since Paul Lambert took over as boss.
"Personally I’m buzzing because this is the best football I’ve played in a long time, especially at first team level,” he added.
"I’m very thankful for him and all his staff for the trust they have put in me."
He says having a run of games makes a big difference: "Match fitness and little things like that are very important.
"When you’re on the bench you lose a lot of fitness, sharpness, so playing a lot of games does help.
"I feel a lot stronger and a lot better in myself and I think the gym sessions we’re doing are great.
Downes says he’s enjoying the football Lambert is trying to instil in his team: "I’m absolutely loving it.
"I think I’m speaking on behalf of all the boys when I say that. Everyone’s so positive now and we go into games believing we will win.
"We went into the QPR game thinking we were definitely going to win and we have that mindset. The table is a tough one to take but we can’t let the table dictate how we feel.
"[He takes the pressure off the players] and he’s a pleasure to play for. There’s not pressure out there. Mistakes happen and he lets us play with freedom. That’s the key with getting the best out of your players.”
Lambert has said it’s been unfair that youngsters such as Downes, Trevoh Chalobah and Jack Lankester have had to take on so much responsibility.
"We are young players but we need to step up to the mark,” Downes continued. "We’re one team and it doesn’t matter how old you are, you have to step up and perform.
"There isn’t a lot of pressure on us. We go out and play with freedom and enjoy the responsibility."
The midfielder admits losing the significantly more experienced Cole Skuse to a knee injury has been a big blow.
"Cole is experienced and knows how to play the game having done it for so many years, so obviously he’s a big loss at the minute,” he said. "We just have to keep going.”
He says he enjoys playing alongside Chalobah, a team-mate at England U20 level as well as at Town.
"An international level he plays at the back, so it’s a bit different with him in the middle,” he said. "He’s a good player, I love playing with him, athletic, gets on the ball. That’s all you can ask for."
Downes is pleased to see 18-year-old Lankester having made his mark in the first team in recent weeks: "Jack puts in a lot of hard work so it was always going to happen.
"You can tell by watching him that he’s lively, nippy and sharp so he’s got a big future ahead of him."
Like Lankester, Downes is yet to find the net at senior level: "I know, I know! My mum tells me every week that I have to score and I do try to be fair. They’re coming… one day.
"The gaffer says to me and Jon Nolan, because we’re playing higher in midfield, that we need to get into the box and get shots off. I’m working on it.”
Despite the defeat at QPR and having won only twice this season, Downes is confident that the team is capable of going on a run of victories, something they’ll need to do in order to avoid the drop.
"Yes, 100 per cent,” he insisted. "Obviously we lost 3-0 but I don’t think that reflected the game. We had a lot of the ball and had them on the back foot second half, which says a lot about us and the way we play. It’s positive.”
He says January additions should help the team to push up the division: "I think the squad we have is very good but we didn’t have the best start which has impacted us a little bit.
"But in January, if we can strengthen up a few areas, then we can get some help and be fine.”
Downes says he’ll have no problem if experienced midfielders are among those recruited during January: "As long as it improves the team then I’m happy.”
Looking ahead to Saturday’s game against Middlesbrough, who are fifth in the table despite having lost 1-0 at home to Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day, he added: "We’re a good team, we can use the ball and we know what we’re doing. We won’t go there with any fear and we’ll go there believing we can get the three points.”