Blues boss Gary Waddock pulled no punches with his verdict of Wanderers' 5-2 capitulation against Brighton on Monday, and says he has been forced to make some important decisions to save the club from relegation.

The defeat leaves the Blues six points adrift of safety going into the New Year and is especially disappointing given the Seagulls' similarly lowly position in the table, leaving Waddock with no alternative but to criticise his side's performance:

"I can't defend that," he fumed. "I take the result because it's my job and my responsibility but the players have to take responsiblity for their performances and actions. Today was unacceptable.

"I spoke to the players before the game and asked them to prove certain things to me - now I've got all the answers I need. Decisions will be made and they might upset one or two, but I've been upset by a number of games so far.

"I'm always positive but when you look at our last two results, it's not acceptable at any level, especially when you're professional footballers trying to get out of the situation we're in," he added.

The post-match press conference focused more on the gravity of the team's situation rather than specifics regarding the game, but Waddock was particularly unimpressed with the manner in which his side conceded all five goals:

"If you can't defend from crosses, and if you're not brave enough in both boxes, then that's what happens. The goals we conceded were farcical, comical and defensively it was a shambles. I'm being brutally honest because I've seen it, and everyone in the ground has seen it, and it's unacceptable.

"It's simple really - we're looking to score goals and we're conceding too many. It's a big problem and we are where we are for a reason.

"They've let themselves down. I get on with my job and once the players go over that white line, they have to put in a performance and get a result. Unfortunately the players haven't come up with the right answers."

Questions were inevitably asked about Waddock's plans for the January transfer window, which opens on Friday, and he confirmed that he is looking to make changes with departures as well as arrivals:

"I know what I need, I know what needs to be done, and it will be done, make no mistake about it. It will be done the way that me and Martin (assistant manager Martin Kuhl) want, because we've got a job to do and it will be done.

"It's all well and good the transfer window opening, but you've got to attract people in and get players out. It's easier said than done.

"The players have performed at this level and have picked up results at this level, but not consistently enough. In the situation we're in, we need leaders, characters, and people who will fight and scrap. We're too nice; we need to be nasty, and I've got to make some decisions which might upset a few, but that's my job."

But whilst heads were dropping amongst the Wanderers squad as the goals continued to flow for the visitors, deepening the misery around Adams Park, Waddock declared defiantly that he will not be giving up the fight:

"What I will say is that I'm a fighter and I'm a winner. Today doesn't change what I'm trying to achieve here but I've got to make decisions. You have to accept the good times and you have to remain positive.

"You don't become a bad team or a bad manager overnight, and all I can say is that I will work extremely hard to turn this around. I'm not going to lay down and die, no chance."