Nigel Pearson told his Bristol City players there's no excuse not to maintain the levels of performance shown in the draw against Watford when they return from the World Cup break.
The Robins dominated Slaven Bilic's promotion hopefuls but left Ashton Gate with just a point after failing to take their chances in front of goal. The Hornets manager was certainly the happier of the two bosses at the full-time whistle and described City's performance as "very good."
It was a positive showing to head into the four-week period but ultimately, City had little to show for their efforts. It was a similar story in the home defeat to Sheffield United with Pearson's side now on a run of two wins from 14 matches.
The break has come at a welcome time for City players to recuperate and spend time with their families, while also allowing defenders Kal Naismith and Tomas Kalas to return to fitness, but they know the standards have been set following a frustrating run of inconsistent performances over the last two months.
Midfielder Joe Williams revealed what the manager said in the dressing room at Ashton Gate after the stalemate with the Hornets, with City next in action against Rotherham United on December 10. "He said that there's no excuse for us now to be inconsistent," the 25-year-old said. "That's the standard, that's the level.
"The players we've got in the room we know what we've got - we know we can be a match for anyone and he just said that's the level.
"When we come back for this 25-game period we have to be at that level every time now and there's no excuses. We'll go away now, have a bit of time with our families but we'll take our heart rate belts and do our running and keep on top of our fitness and come back raring to go."
City's disappointing run of form has left them perilously close to the drop zone. They currently sit 18th, one point above relegation but just seven adrift of the play-offs.
With the unpredictable nature of the Championship, Williams says they don't pay too much attention to the league table but revealed they need to take a look at themselves individually before they return to face Rotherham on December 10.
"It's so tight isn't it?" he added. "I think three or four games ago we were top half so I think this early on we can't take too much notice of it.
"I know the players we've got in there I know we're quite capable of going on a really good run. Hopefully, we can replicate that but right now, no one is really speaking about that (the table).
"We're just focusing on getting back, getting a run of games and trying to go on a good run again because as you saw at the start of the season we are capable of going on a run and putting wins together.
"It's the inconsistency really for whatever reason that may be. We have to look at ourselves individually as I say when we come back for the next 25 games, we'll be looking for that consistency."
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