Dennis Brown, the Devonshire Cougars coach, is not pushing the panic button despite his side’s title hopes suffering a setback.

Cougars slipped four points behind league leaders Somerset Trojans after a disappointing draw against Flanagan’s Onions at Devonshire Recreational Club last weekend.

Brown, however, remains upbeat about his team’s chances of defending their title and believes they are capable of clawing back the deficit with eight games to remaining.

Last season Brown’s side claimed the ‘triple crown’ after claiming the league title, FA Cup and Friendship Trophy.

“It was a setback, yes, but at the end of the day there are still eight games to go,” Brown said. “We must get better with our finishing and defending.

“We created enough chances to put the game away and we are still letting in sloppy goals.”

Somerset Trojans, this season’s surprise package, have also leapfrogged Cougars into second place and are three points ahead of Brown’s men.

Cougars are next in action against Southampton Rangers at Southampton Oval on Sunday, a match Brown insists is not a ‘do-or-die’ affair.

“I am not even concerned about the result,” Brown said. “People put too much emphasis on results, although that is how we are judged.

“If we don’t come to battle then there are consequences for that, especially away from home.”

Regardless of their status in the title race come the final weeks, Brown insists his team will battle to the end.

“If things don’t go our way then we must keep pressing on because the league is not over until it is over,” he said.