West Bromwich Albion manager Alan Pardew has urged his side to "fight to the end" in their battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
The Baggies slumped to a seventh consecutive defeat across all competitions - and a sixth on the bounce in the Premier League - at the hands of Leicester City this afternoon, despite taking the lead at The Hawthorns.
Leicester went on to win 4-1 courtesy of goals from Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez, Kelechi Iheanacho and Vicente Iborra, but Pardew believes that the three-goal deficit was harsh on his side.
"After taking the lead and starting well, we looked in a much better place. They scored a great goal and unfortunately they scored another great goal. We had moments to extend our lead and our confidence was shot from that. I felt the Schmeichel save and not getting a second goal is where it hinged for us," Pardew told BBC Sport.
"It's difficult to play so well for a big portion of the game and still lose 4-1, but we still have to believe and fight. The last 20 minutes was painful for us, it's difficult for the players, but I'm not going to make excuses. We've got to fight to the end and they got that message after the game.
"Like the Huddersfield game, it was the sort we couldn't afford to lose, and we have. We have to show pride and professionalism, and show the fans that we care. We couldn't have worked harder this week but unfortunately it didn't happen."
The last time West Brom suffered six consecutive Premier League defeats was in the 2002-03 season, when they were relegated.
Barney Corkhill
