Carisle United boss Greg Abbott described the 4-0 defeat to Coventry City as "one of his toughest days in football".
Coventry born Abbott told the Press Association: "It's one of the toughest days I've had in football.
"It was embarrassing in the end and the dressing room is so fragile. Every little thing affects the players and I feel as a group we have let people down.
"The game was lost within five minutes, but we are better than that.
"The early goals killed our confidence. I'm not going to give in. I will take the bullets and fire some back when we deserve it.
"I'm not sure we have been as desperate as this in my time here.
"It has hurt like mad and if we don't put it right we will be relegated."