Cardiff City's relegation concerns deepened further on Saturday as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Hull City.
The result leaves the Bluebirds just two points clear of the relegation zone, although all three clubs currently in the bottom three currently have games in hand over Sabri Lamouchi's men.
The Frenchman admitted afterwards that now was the time to panic in terms of their bid to preserve their status in the second tier, but will need more than a few honest soundbites to turn Cardiff's season around.
Here are the key talking points from what was ultimately another disappointing day for the Bluebirds.
More penalty woe
It's admittedly an obvious point, but the lack of goals is at the heart of Cardiff's struggles at the moment. The Bluebirds have scored just 21 this season, the lowest tally in the Championship, and have netted just once in their last seven league games.
Addressing such a wretched run will be at the very top of Lamouchi's list of priorities (OK, another obvious point) as he looks to try to turn round what has so far been an utterly disastrous season.
However, there are some things he can't legislate for. Cardiff have had three penalties in the Championship this season. They've missed them all.
For a team that can't buy a goal at the moment, it's a simply unacceptable record, and some will understandably argue that it's perhaps time to reassess the pecking order of penalty takers at the club. Callum Robinson in particular has missed two of the three penalties he's taken this season. The first miss heavily contributed to his manager getting the sack. The one he scored was in an FA Cup tie at Elland Road that had already gone.
Is he still the man to take spot-kicks? Well, Lamouchi clearly isn't so keen on focusing on individual shortcomings.
Asked on Robinson's mood after the game, he said: "I don't know how he's feeling. The feeling for everyone is we are all disappointed. We can't accept what's happened now.
"We are close but we are far at the same time. We need to change our mentality and our approach to the game. We need to be more aggressive. We must show we want the game more than our opponent."
A terrible run 15 years in the making
Yesterday's result condemned Cardiff to a 13th game without a win, equalling a record set by Dave Jones' side 15 years ago.
Cardiff eventually finished 13th that season. If you offered that to any Bluebird now they'd deliriously snap your arm off with glee.
There's a noticeable, and thoroughly understandable, lack of confidence coursing through the club at the moment. Fans turn up not really expecting anything other than disappointment and, barring a few exceptions, the players are also showing a bit of reluctance to express themselves.
Lamouchi alluded to it himself when he bemoaned Cardiff's lack of aggression in both boxes, and admitted the seemingly waning self-belief in the camp is hampering efforts to turn things around.
"You're right," he said when asked whether confidence was a factor in his side's poor form. "But I knew that before. It was better now than the last game. So I hope we'll be better next time with a different result with Middlesbrough at home. We have to change something. Sixteen games. Sixteen finals and there's three teams behind us. If there are still three teams behind us, it will be a fantastic season. But we need absolutely to fight and to switch on.
"Even if you play better tonight, it's not enough. The small details, we complain about the goals. They give us the opportunity to score, but we didn't score. If you want to win, you must score.
"So maybe with a goal, with a win, confidence will be back. We have some quality, but we are in a bad moment. A bad situation.
"Just focus. Just shut up and work."
Simpson's struggles
Watching events at the MKM Stadium, you can fully understand why a left-back was so high on the wishlist for January.
Lamouchi, as he did at Luton Town, opted to throw Jack Simpson in there again on Humberside, and he will surely have to admit it simply didn't work. Simpson was torn to shreds by Cyrus Christie all afternoon, and Hull clearly targeted that left-hand side for much of the game.
It was a nightmare from start to finish, but it feels harsh to be too critical of the former Rangers man. After all, it's not really his favoured position. Again, there's the possibility that confidence might have something to do with it, but Simpson's skillset is clearly much more suited to a centre-back role.
Needs must, of course. Cardiff aren't exactly blessed with options in that department right now. But there has to be a better solution.
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Colwill absence explained
As with Steve Morison, it seems Lamouchi isn't quite convinced that Wales international Rubin Colwill is ready to start games week in, week out.
Colwill was a noticeable absentee for the trip to East Yorkshire, with the Cardiff boss seemingly hinting that the youngster is behind others in the pecking order at the moment.
"It was a tactical decision," he said. "Nothing against him. Last time he was in the team he came on in the last minutes. I like the player. I like his quality.
"But I must make a choice and with Kion Etete, Sory Kaba, Mark Harris and a midfielder. I get more of a choice. How many games has he played? How many times has he started? Don't put more pressure on young players with quality. We need to find a different spirit. Not from one, but from all. It's different."
Read more:
Hull City 1-0 Cardiff City: Cyrus Christie sees off Bluebirds after Callum Robinson's penalty miss
