Bristol City manager Sean O'Driscoll has criticised his side's negative attitude following Friday's 3-0 defeat at Derby County in the Championship.
The Robins were comfortably beaten at Pride Park to leave them at the bottom of the table with seven games left to play.
"Through everything that has happened, we have been really positive with the players and really positive with what we have said to them," O'Driscoll told Sky Sports News. "The first bit of negativity has just come from them.
"That can't happen given where we are in the league. We have got to handle it better.
"The players have got to be positive and view where we are as a challenge - an opportunity. Because if they don't, the next few matches are going to be torture."
City continue their battle for survival on Monday when they host fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday at Ashton Gate.
