Lee Bell took full responsibility for Crewe Alexandra’s 4-0 defeat at Colchester United on Easter Monday.
The Manager approached the 188 supporters who had made the long round-trip to Essex after the final whistle, and later revealed he had apologised for his side’s display.
Bell pulled no punches in his assessment of the loss, which came on the back of consecutive wins.
“It could have been seven,” he said.
“It was a really poor performance. Lacklustre, a lack of energy, a lack of determination. I expected a tight game but they were much more up for the fight than what we were.
“I spoke to the supporters after the game and told them this is on me. There is a way of losing matches and that wasn’t it.
“It wasn’t premeditated, but thought of all the miles they have travelled - they probably came here with optimism – and it’s Easter so they have probably given up time with their families to be here.
“I just wanted to apologise. Now we have got a job to put it right. I’ll never hide, but we all have to step up. We have to do it, not just say it. I can only apologise.
“The word ‘embarrassed’ was used by a couple of players in the changing room afterwards and I can’t disagree, I thought the performance was embarrassing.”
Bell added: “It really hurts, it stings, it’s horrible. We’ve got the fans here, people at home watching it, all paying their money.
“They want to see their team being competitive and we weren’t competitive at all. It feels like one step forward and five back.
“You can be consistent and still lose a game; you can hit a level and still be beaten, because there are so many factors at play.
“But if you drop your levels and don’t compete, you are going to be on the end of something like that. Colchester fully, fully deserved their win.”