Bob Bradley insists he will not quit the fight after Swansea City slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Middlesbrough.
The Swans are now only off the bottom of the Premier League on goal difference from Hull.
Two goals from Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo and Marten de Roon’s second-half effort eased their relegation rivals to a convincing win.
But Bradley – who has picked up eight points from his 10 games in charge and is facing huge pressure – vowed to fight on.
The 58-year-old said: “I put pressure on myself to see if we can make the team stronger, fight for points every week and I will continue to do that.
“I go in motivated every day, I like this group of players, I love the football club. It’s a challenge, I knew what I was getting into so I’m not backing down now.
“We have lost to a relegation rival. In my time that part has gone well for us.
“We talked about the importance of beating Crystal Palace and Sunderland, but we didn’t take care of business here against a team right around us in the table.
“That will be important going forward and as we look to our next two matches, winning home matches in this whole battle is going to be really key.
“It’s a frustration that we can’t replicate what we have done at home, when we play away.”
The Swans now face huge home games against West Ham on Boxing Day and Bournemouth five days later.
The American added: “We have to look at ourselves. It’s the same story.
“We start okay, we didn’t have any big chances but we thought the energy and concentration was good.
“We’ve talked about ability, about staying strong, but we get caught.
“We put ourselves in a big hole, if you put yourself in that situation you will struggle to get out of it.”
Bradley was taking about the game – but the hole they have dug in the Premier League is looking one they will struggle to get out of this season.
