'˜We're still confident' says Murray

However, after losing last weekend, Lisburn Distillery have just nine games left and Murray admits they are ‘running out of time’ to save themselves.

The Whites travel to resurgent Institute tomorrow (Saturday) for another crucial tie in their fight for survival.

Speaking about last weekend’s 3-0 defeat by Ards, Murray said: “They’re a very good team, but we were hopeful of getting a result.

“We’re disappointed, especially since the three goals were from three individual errors.

“Collectively, we just didn’t play well enough. As a team we weren’t good enough. We just didn’t perform on the day,” he said.

“We can make excuses that they’re the best team in the league, but we just didn’t perform well enough.

“Now we need to refocus and rally the troops,” Murray added.

“We’re running out of games and we’re running out of time,” he continued.

“We’re away to Institute this weekend, which will be tough. They’ve hit a bit of form, along with Ards they are the most inform team in the league and they’ll be hoping to finish in the top two or three, as they have games in hand.

“Now we need to refocus the team and aim to get three points.”

Murray says his team are prepared for the battle and are confident ahead of their remaining fixtures.

“It’s surprising how upbeat and confident they are,” Murray commented.

“They appreciate they were up against a really good side and understand the flaws that resulted in our downfall.

“There was a lack of belief and a will to win the game.

“They are aware of the consequences of bad performances. It’s going to be difficult, but they are prepared to do their utmost to keep the team in the division.

“We’ve got new signings and they have that fire in the belly,” he said.

“We knew it was going to be a case of coming down to the last day, or the last week or two, if we are to creep out of relegation.

“It’s going to take weeks to climb out, it’s not going to be instant, that would be great, but it was not ever going to be the case.

“It’s going to be a battle right through to the end of the season, that’s always how I saw it panning out,” he added.

“The players were signed knowing they were in for a battle and they are all still very confident and upbeat.

“We had them in on Tuesday night and had a really good training session, because until then they had been just going over the defeat and feeling down.

“Now it’s a case of we’ve put it to bed, and we focus on Saturday’s game.

“It’s going to be a difficult game, simply because they are playing so well. But it’s a must win game for us, they are all must win games for us.

“It’s a difficult tie, but we’ll go with a game plan and give it our all.

“We’ll give it everything we have to get a result,” the Whites boss said.