Players Are 'Fragile' - Big Sam

"We're fragile," Allardyce explained. "We lifted the pressure off the players by just telling them that, if they came away with a nil-nil it would be a satisfying result to get us back on track. Anything more than that would be a bonus.

"But we haven't managed to do that and three defeats on the trot now has put the UEFA Cup spot in jeopardy, never mind the fourth spot.

"Now the next two games represent a huge challenge. We've lost three on the trot and we could easily lose the next two even if we play to our very, very best.

"We have to be realistic and that could easily be the case."

"We are absolutely devastated," skipper Kevin Nolan said, weighing up the impact of the St Andrew's result on the back of the defeats at Middlesbrough and at home to Manchester United.

"That's three on the run and it's not getting any easier. But we are confident we can get ourselves out of this "We've got some strong characters who can stand up and be counted."