West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Dean Kiely believes his side's 4-2 drubbing at the hands of Cardif City was the most diabolical game he has played in over a career spanning more than 20 years.
The 36-year-old saw his side crumple in front of him at The Hawthorns on Tuesday night to lose their five-match unbeaten home run and go out of the Carling Cup.
Tony Mowbray's men suffered their humiliation at the hands of Dave Jones' struggling Championship side, courtesy of two goals from Robbie Fowler, one from Jimmy Flloyd Hasselbaink and one from Trevor Sinclair.
Kiely said: "That was the most diabolical time in my 20-year career. I think we were appalling, absolutely dreadful. We talked in the build-up to the game about Hasselbaink and Fowler and what they bring to the game so to allow Fowler the freedom of our 18-yard box when he has scored some 228 goals from that same position, means we hardly went into the unknown when it came to the threats they posed. To not nullify him in anyway, shape or form was woeful.
"We can't hide behind anything. We can't say we were unlucky. If you say that every time, then it means there was luck involved which there isn't. When we win, it is because we have prepared and we produced the goods and played how we intended to play."
"In the Cardiff game, we were a million miles away from how we should have played, but the players will take it all square on the chin.
"The first half-hour [in which Albion conceded all four goals] was excruciatingly painful but you can't dissect it and blame the defence, the midfield or the forwards but you have to take it as a team.
"The manager was not asking anyone to do anything they haven't done before, so there can't be any excuses.
"That first 30 minutes was the worst I have ever been involved in. It is right and proper the manager will learn more about the players he has got here on the back of that result."
Kiely said now was not the time for players to feel sorry for themselves but warned it was vital that everyone was ready to stand up and be counted before Sunday, when Albion take on John Gregory's Queens Park Rangers at The Hawthorns in a 1.15pm kick off.
He added: "We are back in training and we don't want any players coming in sulking or feeling sorry for themselves. We had an opportunity to progress in the cup and we didn't take it. We need to take the flak and the criticism on the chin and kick on now for the rest of the season."
