Sergio Conceicao called for his AC Milan side to stay focused from the get-go if they are to improve results.

Milan's hopes of finishing in Serie A's top four continue to wane despite a good fightback against Fiorentina in a 2-2 draw at San Siro, where they conceded twice inside the first 10 minutes.

Malick Thiaw turned the ball into his own net in the seventh minute, while Moise Kean doubled the visitors' advantage three minutes later.

But Tammy Abraham pulled one back for Milan mid-way through the first half, while first-half substitute Luka Jovic's leveller in the second half saved a point for Conceicao's side.

Milan have now conceded first in each of their last six league games and, while they have come back to win two of those, three defeats in that period have left them ninth in the standings and nine points off fourth-placed Bologna.

In fact, after their draw with Fiorentina, Milan have now won 16 points from losing positions in Serie A this season, more than any other side.

And ahead of Friday's clash with Udinese, Conceicao called for Milan to start games as strongly as they finish them.

"You need to have the attitude of the second half from the start, because games are won from the first minute to the last," Conceicao said.

"It's important to be focused from the first minute, we have spoken about this a lot amongst ourselves, because it is nothing new this season.

“We have often reacted really well, but you can't always come back and win games."

Conceicao has not shied away from making early substitutions, but he explained this is not pre-planned.

"It seems like a contradiction, but I don't line up the players to take them off at half-time," he added.

"I think about how the games go, then try to manage or change to help the guys. Based on the feelings I have during the week, I choose the game plan, which then maybe changes, especially if we go behind."

After taking over from Paulo Fonseca in December, Conceicao has kept Milan ticking in their previously used 4-2-3-1 shape, with plenty of attacking resources to choose from.

Despite Jovic coming off the bench to score in Milan’s last two league matches, Conceicao has no intention of switching to a strike partnership.

"The 4-4-2 is one of the formations I like the most, I played there for many years," Conceicao said.

"But we are not yet balanced and solid enough to play with two strikers, plus [Rafael] Leao and Theo [Hernandez] who attack a lot. You can be offensive even with a single striker."

Conceicao will be missing defender Kyle Walker, who is out with an elbow fracture, for the Udinese match.

Forward Santiago Gimenez, who went off injured against Fiorentina, and midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who is recovering from appendicitis, will also be absent.