Tottenham assistant Bruno Saltor believes the Premier League strugglers have "shown they can compete against any team" but acknowledged small details are "going against us".
Spurs were dragged closer to danger after suffering a 3-0 defeat to fellow relegation candidates Nottingham Forest in a huge blow to their hopes of staying in the top flight.
Spurs twice hit the woodwork in the first half, but Igor Jesus gave Forest the lead on the stroke of half-time, with Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awoniyi adding to their tally in the second half.
This marks just the third time that Spurs have lost by three or more goals at home to a side starting the day 17th or lower in the Premier League table (also against West Ham in October 2013 and Sheffield Wednesday in August 1998).
Tottenham have not won any of their last 13 league matches (D5 L8), equalling their second-longest winless run in league history (also 13 in November 1912).
Meanwhile, their 30 points from 31 games this season represents their joint-lowest return at this stage of any campaign, along with 1914-15 (accounting for 3pts/win all-time).
Igor Tudor did not undertake any post-match duties, with reports saying he was informed of an immediate family bereavement.
But Saltor insists Spurs remain optimistic despite their precarious position, with just one point separating them from 18th-placed West Ham heading into the international break.
"If we focus on the result today, it's a tough one to take," he told BBC Match of the Day. "It's a really difficult one.
"If you focus on the last two games and the performance in the first half today, we were much better. But small details are going against us right now. The key is how we can be consistent with our performances throughout the 90 minutes.
"The players care, and they get affected. We need to be stronger than that. We need to be focused on what we want to do. We need to keep improving and getting better.
"We are in a relegation battle. Everyone knows. We are conscious of it. The players, they know. The most important thing is to be together. The fans showed they were next to us.
"From the start to the finish, they were outstanding. We felt the support. For us, we need to stay connected. We need to get even closer when there are problems, like a family. That's the message.
"Still 21 points to play for. We have shown we can compete against any team. We need to keep improving and getting better to get those points."
Forest, meanwhile, moved three points clear of the relegation zone after achieving a league double over Spurs in consecutive seasons for just the second time (previously 1995-96 and 1996-97).
While they only had eight shots to Spurs' 14, Forest did provide the bigger goal threat, getting seven efforts on target.
"The win shows the spirit of the team, the character, the personality. It was not easy," Pereira told Sky Sports.
"In the end, the first half was difficult. At half-time, I asked the team to play the same way that we started the game because it's our game [to play] with the ball, not without the ball.
"But without the ball, be compact, find the proper moments to press them, and they did that with personality, character and quality. We deserved to win.
"It is not just about this game, it's about the next seven games. We need to have this personality, playing with our arguments, with the ball, because we have quality.
"I'm happy with the team and with the supporters because they deserve [it]. They came here to support us and send the energy we needed to get the three points."