Exeter City must 'stand up and be counted' after 7-0 Bolton loss, says boss Gary Caldwell
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Exeter have gone from top of League One to one point off the relegation places in two months
Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell says his side have to "stand up and be counted" after their 7-0 thrashing at Bolton Wanderers.
The loss was an eighth defeat in nine League One matches with the Grecians only earning one point in that time.
It was Exeter's heaviest league defeat in 65 years and comes as part of a run that has seen City win just three games in 17 in all competitions.
"It's nowhere near good enough, we need to be better," Caldwell told BBC Devon.
"We all have to stand up and be counted in this difficult run, but it's not good enough."
City's board gave Caldwell their backing this week and said they were planning with him to strengthen in the January transfer window.
Asked if he felt he still had that backing Caldwell, who took over as Exeter boss in October last year, said: "It's not my decision, but I've spoken to the board several times.
"They know where we are as a football club, they know the long-term plan that we have.
"They know we're in a really difficult moment and we have to stay strong, we have to stick together, that's the whole football club - board, supporters, staff, players.
"We know we have to be better. That isn't good enough, so we have to take whatever's coming.
"All I know is we've had great dialogue this week. We know what we're doing moving forward, but in the short term we have to win a game of football very quickly."
'Injuries have led to a loss of form'
No side has conceded more than the 29 goals Exeter have let in in League One this season, and only one side has scored fewer than the 12 goals the Grecians have mustered in 17 games
Exeter led League One in September before tumbling down the table to one point off the relegation places.
They have scored just two goals in their past nine league games, while letting in 25, including 10 in the past two matches.
A Carabao Cup win over Premier League side Luton Town, and a narrow 3-2 loss to Middlesbrough in the same competition, showed the talent is there.
But City have also suffered 9-0 and 5-0 losses in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy to Reading and Arsenal Under-21s respectively.
City have been hit by injuries to key players, although many are now returning to fitness and Caldwell says the absences have been a factor in his side's downturn.
"Injuries have led to a loss of form, a loss of form leads to a loss of confidence, and a loss of confidence leads to moments like today where when we concede and it's very difficult for them to play the way we want, on the front foot and be aggressive," he said.
"We have to find that resilience. It's not easy being a football player - I understand how difficult it is for them, and it's my job and the staff's job to help them in these moments.
"But we have to find it very quickly because we can't have many performances like that as it's not good enough."
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