HULL City's players were simply not at the races as they were well beaten by Barnsley – and the manner of defeat was very, very worrying.
The Tigers looked lethargic and heavy legged, almost as if they had played around 100 games this season.
Whereas Barnsley were up for the contest and determined to win every ball, City seemed to struggle to find the energy needed to compete.
And heading into what has become a must-win game against the champions Cardiff next week, that will give manager Steve Bruce nightmares.
He faces a massive job this week when it comes to lifting his side for that huge occasion on Saturday afternoon.
I am sure he has been left scratching his head as to what has gone wrong, as his players have simply stopped doing what they have all season long.
For me, the problem on Saturday all stemmed from the middle of the park.
The central trio of Corry Evans, David Meyler and Stephen Quinn failed to get a foothold in the game at all.
Perhaps the most concerning thing was the fact that Meyler and Quinn in particular were not making the forward runs they have done all year.
Instead of taking the game to their opponents, they have started looking to sit and to contain them, and that simply isn't the way to play at this stage of the season.
Even City's stars of the season, the two wide men Robbie Brady and Ahmed Elmohamady, have gone into their shells.
They are not being helped by poor service in recent games, but rather than taking on their men and having a go, they have been sitting deeper in the past three matches and hitting hopeful crosses from the half-way line, rather than getting to the by-line and zipping crosses over.
It has meant City have played the bottom three sides in just over a week, in which they have lost two and drawn one, but most crucially, have failed to score a single goal.
Bruce has repeatedly said that a lack of goals has been their big problem all season long, and he has worked hard to solve it.
George Boyd appeared to be a solution when he first arrived, but since being named the Championship player of the month, he has become very one-paced and he's not getting in the same positions.
Matty Fryatt has been brought in now also, but to me he looks to be playing too early, and I don't think he is mentally ready to be able to find his best.
Add to that the fact City are not creating any chances at present – unlike earlier in the season – and you have to feel sorry for him.
Bruce has a massive job on his hands now over the next five days.
The key message to his players has to be that it is still in their hands, but also he has to make sure his players rediscover that belief and trust in one another that they had earlier in the campaign.
On their day, he knows, as we all do, that City are as good as any side in this league, and that includes this weekend's opponents Cardiff.
Bruce has to try and relax the players. He needs to get his midfield three back in the mood to play relaxed football.
He needs to get Elmohamady and Brady together and give them a kick up the backside and insist they play further up the field.
He also needs to find a way to put his players at ease again, so they go out and express themselves positively.
A big, big week, is ahead.
