Northampton Town manager Keith Curle gave an honest assessment after Tuesday's loss at Oxford United.
“As soon as the first goal went in we melted and that can’t happen,” he said.
“We didn’t have enough fight and character on the pitch and that was disappointing because that’s not what I expect from my team.
“Some players let me down tonight and that is the harsh reality those players have got to be aware of. I can handle getting beat because that’s the industry we are in but there is a way to lose.
“We had players missing but that’s an opportunity for other players to come in and deliver.
“We are in a fight from now until the end of the season to maintain survival in this division and to do that you have got to be prepared to give everything. You’ve got to have a determination and an aggression about you for yourself and the football club.
“We lost too many battles tonight and we did not have enough players who could say they came off the pitch having given it everything.
“I’m part of the changing room as well, I’m not happy and I take full responsibility for the result.
“I want this football club to survive in this division and continue on an upward curve but to do that we need players with the same fight and desire.
“We’ve got enough to win games to keep us in this division but we need leaders. There is a long way to go and a lot of football to be played.
“This is the time now we need the supporters, we are desperate for that support and we need their backing.
“We are all in the same fight.”