Leicester interim manager Andy King warned his side can’t be “arrogant” to think they are too good to go down after losing 2-1 at Birmingham in the Sky Bet Championship.
The Foxes, docked six points this week for breaking the EFL’s profit and sustainability rules, have suffered three successive defeats and are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference.
“We have 15 games to make sure we are not below the line at the end of the season,” said King.
“I think if the lads give what they have given in the last couple of games then we will be all right.
“But we can’t be arrogant or naive about it to think we’re on a good run of form and everything will be all right.
“We have to accept that over a period of games now we haven’t been good enough results-wise and that has to improve.
“No one wants to be put in that position but over the course of 31 games, we haven’t been good enough.”
King admitted Leicester were their own worst enemy by conceding Ibrahim Osman’s third-minute opener after Ricardo Pereira’s mistake, then losing Bobby De Cordova-Reid to a 34th-minute sending off – their second red card in the first half in the last two games.
“I’m disappointed in the manner of the defeat because we shot ourselves in the foot,” he said.
“We gave ourselves a mountain to climb and we have to rectify that.
“I think potentially it needs to be brought up with the players (two early dismissals) because we have had four red card in the first halves this season.”
Birmingham manager Chris Davies is “excited” to see where his side will finish after they moved to within two points of the final play-off place.
Victory over relegation-threatened West Brom on Tuesday night will move Blues into the top six.
“Regardless of what happens on Tuesday night, I get the feeling that we are ready to compete right to the end of the season,” said Davies.
“We’ve got an improved squad from January, there’s a togetherness and hunger there and I’m excited to see how we attack every game and see where we end up.”
Birmingham’s on-loan Brighton winger Ibrahim Osman broke the deadlock in the third minute when he raced away before slotting past goalkeeper Asmir Begovic after easily dispossessing dallying captain Ricardo Pereira.
Leicester’s lone highlight was their 21st minute unstoppable equaliser, Abdul Fatawu lashing a volley into the corner of the net.
The game turned with De Cordova-Reid’s 34th-minute dismissal for a touchline tackle on Osman.
Blues created more chances before Jay Stansfield grabbed the 66th minute winner.
The striker latched onto a lovely pass from Marvin Ducksch and slotted beyond Begovic to end his 13-match goal drought.
“I spoke to Jay this week because I sensed his frustration and reassured him that he’s much more than a goalscorer,” added Davies.
“He gives us so much with his intensity, pressing and running, selflessness and link-up play, but he’s a striker and they all feed off goals.
“He took the goal really well and that will be a weight off his shoulders.”
