Chris Smalling believes only the Manchester United players can inspire a revival at Old Trafford.
United's 1-0 defeat to Southampton on Saturday means they have only won three of their last 13 matches. And they are now five points behind fourth-place Tottenham, meaning their task of securing qualification for next season's Champions League is growing ever harder.
United were booed off at Old Trafford after mustering a solitary shot on target and Smalling accepted a team who have only scored 17 goals in 19 games are not playing the brand of football supporters expect.
"The fans want to see goals and see us attack," Smalling told United's official website. "We couldn't break Southampton down today, they played a very solid five and we found it very difficult but we need to learn from this.
"Teams are coming here well organised and Southampton were well organised today, as we were. We both cancelled each other out and it looked like a set-play could be the deciding factor. We were on the end of it today but there were few chances."
Smalling was frustrated by the way the unmarked Southampton substitute Charlie Austin was allowed to score his side's winner.
"It was a free header," Smalling said. "They're big guys and everyone should be tighter, so to lose the match that way is disappointing.
"Set-pieces were their main threat and they had a couple of half-chances but [it's disappointing] to concede that way when we should have walked off with a goalless draw, because neither side deserved to win."
United had won three of their four previous matches but their winning run came to an abrupt end, leaving Smalling eyeing Friday's FA Cup tie against Derby and next Tuesday's Premier League match with Stoke as matches where he and his teammates have to lead a fightback.
"We started this year very well but this is a setback," he said. "We can't dwell on this too much. We've got to go again on Friday and the midweek afterwards as well. The players need to pick ourselves up as we're the only ones who can turn this thing around."