Blues boss Gary Waddock was in no mood for congratulating his side for their improved second-half display in the 4-3 loss to Stockport on Saturday, and instead offered a frank assessment of their below-par efforts in the first 45 minutes.
The Hatters led 2-0 at the break and Wycombe had keeper Tom Heaton to thank for keeping the scoreline to a minimum, before the home side raced into a 4-0 lead by the hour-mark.
Two goals from substitute Matt Phillips and an own goal from keeper Owain Fon Williams set up a tense finale at Edgeley Park, but Waddock was still shell-shocked from the first-half showing when he spoke to the press at full-time:
"The damage was done in the first half and we didn't show up at all - that's the reason we've come away with nothing," he said. "That's not acceptable and I'm not happy at all.
"It should have been worse and if it wasn't for Tom, we could have been six down. It was a really important game and we didn't turn up - that's not right.
"If we had got a result at the end of it, everyone would have said 'what a fantastic fightback', but the first half is not how we want our team to play. Possibly we could have turned it around but I would still have been an angry man standing here," he added.
One of the major talking points ahead of the game was the atrocious state of the Edgeley Park pitch, which passed two inspections from referee Colin Webster and contributed to difficult playing conditions, but Waddock was making no excuses:
"It's the same for both sides," he declared. "Maybe they're used to it because they play on it every other week, but whatever the state of the pitch, that wasn't the reason behind our performance. We have to show commitment and desire and we didn't do that today.
"Our preparation was right and we told the players about the conditions of the pitch. At the training ground we've got an area which is horrendous, so we went over and trained on it and told them it would be like this on Saturday.
"The surface has got nothing to do with the result - it's about being mentally tough and trying to compete.
"Stockport are fighting for their lives as well and they wanted it in the first half. You have to fight and scrap - there was a reaction in the second half, but the damage was already done."
Waddock's comments had echoes of previous press conferences after heavy defeats against Huddersfield, Brighton and Yeovil, and it was the 4-1 defeat to the Glovers earlier this month which he hoped would motivate his players to produce an improved performance:
"I harp on about the Yeovil game and I reminded the players about it on Thursday and Friday. I didn't want that feeling again and I've got it.
"I'm getting tired of saying it. We play well for four or five games and then go back to what we said after the Yeovil game.
"The performances of late have been very encouraging but today wasn't. What do you put that down to? We spoke about being mentally strong and having to compete week in, week out - you can't just turn it on when you want to.
"That's why we are where we are. The players need to perform on a consistent level. If you don't, that's what you get."
After naming an unchanged line-up from the side that drew 0-0 with Southampton on Tuesday, Waddock hinted that he may shuffle the pack for next week's visit of Carlisle:
"Let's just and wait and see what the team is next week, because not many are guaranteed a place, I can tell you that."
Coming soon: Paul Dennis provides the best photos from Edgeley Park.
