Mike Phelan has challenged Hull City to "grow up'' or slip to Premier League relegation with little more than a whimper.
Hull were hammered 6-1 at Bournemouth on Saturday and now stand winless in six Premier League matches, having leaked 17 goals in their last four contests.
Phelan won August's manager of the month award only for Hull's form to taper off sharply, while Saturday's hefty defeat was his first game after taking the City manager's job on a permanent basis.
The former Manchester United assistant manager refused to lay into his players in the wake of the latest lacklustre performance but admitted there were some emotional inquests among the squad on the south coast.