Cardiff City endured yet another body blow to their ailing Premier League survival bid at Burnley, a 2-0 defeat which left Neil Warnock struggling for answers.
Here are the main talking points to emerge from the Turf Moor malaise and what needs to happen next if the Bluebirds are to overhaul Brighton...
End Cardiff's first half woes?
The contentious refereeing decisions in the second half of this game will be remembered, especially if Cardiff are relegated. Like the complete robbery against Chelsea, the Bluebirds felt they were directly denied points by the officials.
But let's not forget how poor Cardiff were in the first half. Warnock's side may have felt aggrieved after the final whistle, but they didn't help themselves with an awful performance from 1 to 11 in the first 45 minutes.
They were passive, cowed by Burnley's physicality and they were all over the shop at set pieces.
Cardiff's problem came in the fact that Burnley were happy to sit deep and ask the visitors to break them down.
The Clarets knew that tactic would limit the effect of Junior Hoilett and Josh Murphy on the flanks and the pair were routinely snuffed out, while the hosts also denied Kenneth Zohore any space whatsoever.
It's been too often this season that Cardiff have self-destructed away from home and it could cost them. They have to start Brighton brightly, and banish this sort of first-half showing, or the one we saw at Wolves.
Brighton will be content with a draw. Cardiff have to display more of a cutting edge to break them down.
Everything a dejected Neil Warnock said after Cardiff City's controversial defeat to Burnley
No resolution to the Zohore v Niasse debate
It was probably fair that Kenneth Zohore got his chance in this game.
While Oumar Niasse has been effective since signing on loan from Everton, he's yet to notch a goal. The troubling thing for Warnock is that Zohore didn't come close to scoring at Turf Moor either.
For all the Dane's hard work and decent hold-up play, he didn't register a shot on Tom Heaton's goal and that has to be a worry for Cardiff.
But he did trouble Burnley's centre-backs, won free-kicks and brilliantly set-up a golden chance which Junior Hoilett spurned.
Who starts up front for Tuesday night's relegation showdown with Brighton?
The truth is that neither candidate is making a compelling case, so Warnock may have to consider fitting Bobby Reid into his side to bring more goal threat.
If Cardiff don't score goals, they will be relegated.
Cardiff need more from their main striker. Much more.
No conspiracy, but Cardiff's luck is out
There are sporting scientists out there who believe there is no such thing as luck.
Some like South African golfer Gary Player have suggested luck is intrinsically linked to hard work: "The more I practice the luckier I get".
Others meanwhile subscribe to the cliché that "You make your own luck".
Yet none of these explain why Cardiff seem to be getting the thin end of the wedge in terms of refereeing decisions this season. They work hard, they give everything and frankly deserve better from the officials.
"It certainly isn't evening itself out," Everything a dejected Neil Warnock said after Cardiff City's controversial defeat to Burnley in the press room at Turf Moor after watching a barely conceivable string of events that conspired to snatch a penalty away from the Bluebirds.
The veteran boss didn't know whether to laugh, cry, say nothing or have another rant and risk another FA fine. In the end, he barely said anything.
He left the talking to the travelling Bluebirds fan, who repeatedly chanted the Premier League is rubbish, reflecting a disillusioned fanbase, some of whom even claim there is a conspiracy to deny the Welsh club a place in the top flight.
Such talk is fanciful. Mike Dean may have actually got the handball decisions correct, but it looked a definite penalty on Aron Gunnarsson.
That just shows the referees are human and make mistakes.
It's simply those mistakes that are costing Cardiff, nothing more.
But after Chelsea, they're costing Cardiff dear. Possibly their Premier League place.
Time to dust down, go again and bash Brighton
Bournemouth's 5-0 thrashing of Brighton means the gap between Cardiff and 17th spot remains at five points.
So the clash between the Seagulls and the Bluebirds at the AMEX Stadium on Tuesday night takes on gigantic proportions. Managers are fond of saying games are "cup finals", but this really is a must-win for Cardiff.
Three points could rescue their season, defeat could render it effectively over.
Cardiff, therefore, can't afford to dwell on the disappointment of Turf Moor. They must be assertive and bold in their approach, as they were in the second half against Burnley.
Warnock may need to tinker with his tactics, play two up top. Whether Zohore and Niasse, or one of those two plus Bobby Reid.
Cardiff have got to go for it, start in the ascendancy and keep their foot on Brighton's throat.
They must be resolute defensively, dominant in midfield. But they do need to be more adventurous from the kick-off and Warnock has to come up with winning tactics.
It's possible, though. This is not over just yet. But they do have to win the most must-win of must-win matches.
The fat lady is warming up her vocal chords but she hasn't sung yet. Still they don't believe it: the blues could yet be staying up.
