Derek McInnes has hit out at the complacency of players and fans after Bristol City suffered their second defeat in a row at Derby on Saturday.
The City boss warned that his side were still in a relegation battle, after their “poor performance and neglect” allowed Nigel Clough’s side three points.
After a goalless first half, City took the lead through Martyn Woolford’s low drive after he was set free by winger Albert Adomah.
But the Rams were level when Craig Bryson tapped home their first home goal in more than five and a half hours from Jamie Ward’s pull-back.
And they won the game when Callum Ball latched on to a Paul Green attempt and shot under David James.
Speaking after the match, McInnes had stern words for his side.
“When you drop your standards from where we’ve been you suffer,” he told the club website. “We’ve had a lot of plaudits, all of us, and rightly so. The players needed to feel good about themselves.
“However, it only comes about from results and performances. The Derby game is an indication, for anyone who doesn’t think so, we are in a relegation battle.”
Fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest are next up for City at Ashton Gate next Saturday in a true relegation six-pointer. Forest lie third from bottom of the Championship, with only goal difference separating the two sides.