Birmingham boss Alex McLeish described the performance as 'shambolic' against Crewe Alexandra and said the 4-1 loss showed up frailties in the team that needed to be addressed urgently. "At the end of the day it was a shambles in the second-half, it was murder to watch and the players know it was unacceptable," McLeish told the Birmingham Mail.
"But it also exposed the frailties of the squad.
"With injuries, and people coming back from injuries clearly needing games, there was a sluggishness out there.
"The first half was all right, actually. We lost a goal to a wonder strike just before half-time, but we bossed the game up to then.
"Okay, people will say we should have been doing that against Crewe.
"But Garry O'Connor should have had a hat-trick, maybe even four goals, and it's not like him because he's a decent finisher.
"Then we lost early goals in the second half, a couple of gifts again. We seem to do that possession-wise, surrender it easily.
"We didn't defend the crossed balls with enough determination.
"The way we gave away the goals provided them enormous confidence. We just became so open and in the end we looked very leg-weary.
"I've got to look at that and speak to the fitness guys to make sure the players are ready for the Premier League campaign ahead.
"Whether the punters will say it's an excuse or not, the players said they felt really sluggish and don't feel sharp enough yet."
McLeish continued: "I have been in football a long time. I have had poor pre-seasons before and then gone on to have good seasons.
"That's an experience I have in the game. That's why I won't put my head in the oven just yet.
"Results are important. No doubt about it."