Nearly 3,000 Bristol City fans made the trip up to the Midlands to roar on their side, even in light of a challenging run of form, but they were served up a performance that proved a considerable departure from their commitment and passion.
City meekly surrendered at the Coventry Building Society Arena despite twice taking the lead and playing the entirety of the second half against 10 men following Ian Maatsen's red card.
Manager Nigel Pearson was not present due to illness but his wish for a team built on commitment and a ruthless attitude to defend their goal at all costs, is about as far away as it's ever been since he first took charge in February.
Captain Dan Bentley had issued a rallying cry prior to the game, due to the way they collapsed at Birmingham City in midweek, and while the Robins were ostensibly better at Coventry, it was troubling to see the hosts enjoy so much possession and control despite being a man down.
Assistant manager Curtis Fleming, guiding the team in Pearson's absence, spoke of "hard truths" and emotion coming out in the dressing room but some kind of reaction is urgently required as they tumble towards the bottom three.
Although City twice found the net against the Sky Blues, any sense of defensive security has deserted them and they've concede three times in three of the last four games.
Understandably, the travelling Cider Army were furious at full-time with a sense of where next? As Pearson can only work with the players he has, and something is clearly wrong ... and has been for too long.
City now have the international break to hopefully enable Matty James, Nathan Baker, Antoine Semenyo and Joe Williams to return to fitness but the problems clearly extend beyond personnel.
This Robins team have no identity, are too easy to beat and after a brief revival in August and September, all the issues from last season are rising to the surface again.
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