Alan Shearer said confidence was a problem after Newcastle were held to a 0-0 draw by Portsmouth.
His side are three points from safety in the Premier League, with Shearer yet to win in four matches as Magpies boss.
"Confidence in football is a huge thing, winning football matches becomes a habit and losing football matches becomes a habit," he told BBC Sport.
"At the moment it's proving very difficult to get that elusive win. If we can get it then we'll go on a run."
Newcastle have drawn two and lost two under Shearer and they have four matches remaining to avoid the drop into the Championship, with their next game a trip to Liverpool on Sunday.
"I think there will be three or four nervous teams come the last day of the season, we have to make sure we're still in there fighting and I believe we will be," said Shearer.
Chances went begging at St James' Park for Michael Owen, Mark Viduka and Obafemi Martins but Portsmouth dominated the closing stages and could have had a penalty when Peter Crouch went down in the box.
"We're disappointed not to get three points, I thought we've created enough chances to have won the game," stated Shearer.
"I don't know what's going to be enough to survive this season, I don't think anyone does the way this season's going.
"I think one thing's for sure, it will go right to the wire and I still believe there are going to be more twists and turns between now and the end of the season.
Hart 'extremely pleased' with Pompey
"Ironically, our three best chances have fallen to our three big hitters in Michael, Mark and Oba, and perhaps on another night they should have put them away.
"It's not that easy, I've been in that position myself but that's the way things are going for us at the minute, it's proving very hard to win a football match."
He added: "Who knows, it might be a very, very good point for us, it might not. We'll have to see what comes at the end of the season."
The draw leaves Portsmouth in 14th place, seven points clear of Newcastle in the relegation zone and seemingly on course for safety.
"I was extremely pleased," said Pompey boss Paul Hart. "I thought the discipline of the side was good, following the strategy that we set, and then some massive performances in there, some wonderful defending. We knew as the game wore on we'd get chances and on another day we may have scored two or three.
"The players have certainly developed a strong mental approach to all these games. We've been difficult to beat, not always pretty to watch and I hold my hands up there, but it's about results at this stage."
On the claims for a penalty when Crouch and Fabricio Coloccini came together, Hart said: "I thought it was a penalty then, even from such a distance because I know Peter Crouch doesn't go down unless he's fouled.
"I've since seen it and it's definitely a penalty."
And Hart is optimistic that his side are on course to retain their Premier League status.
"We're getting there," he commented. "We're not really sprinting over the line but we're crawling and scrapping and fighting. You can't underestimate this performance here, it was a very emotional night.
"We came here and put up a solid, professional performance, which ended up looking extremely good."
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?