Derby County boss Paul Jewell described their performance in the defeat to Wigan as "dire".
"It was just dire. There's no getting away from it," said Jewell. "From first whistle to last we were second best in all departments as there was no desire.
"We lost 4-1 at home to Preston (in the FA Cup) and for 30 minutes against Sheffield Wednesday (in an FA Cup replay) we were awful, but that's as bad as it's been.
"To play like we did today was embarrassing, and not just because I have come back to Wigan, but because Derby deserve better than that.
"A lot of the players do not deserve to be here. I never normally slag players off, but I can't defend the way they've played today.
"And I'm not telling you (the media) anything different than I've told them, but today was disgraceful.
"They wouldn't win any game at any level playing like that, be it in the Third Division or the Premier League.
"I asked them in the dressing room 'do you want to be part of a team that is embarrassing, is a laughing stock?' That's what we are becoming.
"Our performance was unacceptable against Sheffield Wednesday for half an hour, and it was unacceptable against Preston.
"But that's the worst I've ever seen from a so-called Premier League team.
"Somehow we have to get through to the end of the season, and then we have to shape them up or ship them out. That's what it is going to take."