Roy Hodgson compared his Crystal Palace side to "a boxer knocked down by superior fighters" after their latest crushing defeat at Manchester United.
Palace lost 4-0 at Old Trafford just seven days on from a five-goal defeat across the city at Manchester City.
Hodgson's men have now lost seven on the spin to open their campaign, tying Portsmouth's record losing start to a Premier League season (2009/10).
And the Eagles were on the back foot from the outset against United, conceding inside three minutes as Juan Mata set the tempo for the afternoon.
Marouane Fellaini's brace put the hosts in charge and Romelu Lukaku capped an impressive victory late on.
"The quality these teams have they don't miss chances," said Hodgson after the game.
"Coming into the game this week we thought if things go out way we could have got something out of the game.
"The messages being put across are being grapsed by the players. We now have Chelsea and it doesn't get any easier.
"The past three weeks' work has been good but this break will be good to get more work done. The fans are brilliant and that support will help us through.
"I hope my enjoyment and passion for the game will spread over to the players.
"At the moment we're like a boxer knocked down by superior fighters. We try to stay in there and not surrender."
