Nigel Pearson has admitted his side's current poor form is a real concern.
But he said everyone must take heart from their battling display in defeat with 10 men against Millwall.
City head to Oakwell today to take on relegation-threatened Barnsley and both sides are desperate for points for very different reasons.
A run of one win from 10 games has seen City slip outside the top six for the first time since September, while the Tykes slipped back into the bottom three after their defeat at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
"They are going to have to take encouragement from Friday's performance," Pearson said.
"We are now down to seven games. To be out of form in terms of getting results, as we are, is a concern, there is no doubt about that.
"But we have got to bounce back and bounce back quickly. The only way to do that is to continue to work hard.
"When you face a bit of adversity you have to be able to deal with the responsibility of going out there and performing under pressure.
"The players are clearly very upset about a few things after Friday, but we will have to get ourselves prepared for the next game on Monday," Pearson said after Friday's defeat.
"The players have shown a lot of desire to play in a positive fashion; to play in a good manner despite going down to 10 men after two minutes.
"Things aren't going for us at the moment but we have to keep working hard."
City will be without influential captain Wes Morgan, who was dismissed for a professional foul after just two minutes of Friday's defeat, which they suffered after Alan Dunne's cruel late strike.
Morgan will serve a one-game ban at Oakwell, but Pearson said he had no real complaints about the decision.
"It was a bit of a stumble but with the interpretation of the law I can't really have too much of a moan about that," he said. "If it had happened at the other end, we would think it was worthy of a red card.
"It was unfortunate the stage it was at and that it was unintentional.
"There were lots of other events that went on which were a bit inconsistent. It would be inappropriate to try and use those situations.
"I could bemoan a number of things but the defeat was unfortunate. The players have worked very hard to get something out of the game and to concede a goal so late in the game is quite cruel and they didn't deserve it.
"Having said that, we didn't defend that situation at all well. You have to defend for the entire game and it cost us."
