Hertha Berlin coach Friedhelm Funkel bemoaned his side's misfortune as they fell to yet another defeat.

Berlin have lost their last eight Bundesliga matches, been knocked out of the DFB-Pokal by second division opposition and taken just one point so far from three games in the Europa League, and that coming against Lithuanian side Ventspils.

Thursday night's 1-0 defeat at home to Heerenveen was yet another low point in what is quickly becoming a very depressing season for the club which finished last season fourth in the Bundesliga table, and Funkel admits things just are not going their way.

"Unfortunately at the moment it is the case that we are getting punished immediately when we make an error," Funkel said.

"We have just been lacking a bit of luck."

Nevertheless, Funkel, who took over from Lucien Favre just three weeks ago, is not losing faith in his side.

"We did not let the early goal knock us out and we tried to get back in the game in the second half," he said.

"We have to keep on fighting, running and training hard.

"Then luck will come back to us."

Berlin have a mountain to climb if they want to remain in the Europa League, but that is probably not their priority right now either.

They desperately need to get back to winning ways in the Bundesliga, starting with the visit of champions Wolfsburg to the Olympia Stadion on Sunday, otherwise the gap to safety, which is currently five points, risks opening up further.