Russell Martin cut a dejected figure once again after Swansea City's 1-1 draw with Rotherham United, the team booed off the pitch by their own fans.
The Swans took the lead through what was Joel Piroe's 13th goal of the season shortly before half-time, although the club's former transfer target Chiedozie Ogbene struck seven minutes after the restart to earn the Millers a share of the spoils.
Martin's men have won just three of their last 20 matches in all competitions, an alarming period of form that has seen them plummet from fourth to 15th in the Championship table.
It's clear there are major problems running through the club, on and off the field. Here's a closer look at the situation Swansea currently find themselves in and some of the issues surrounding it.
The boos and their impact
Just minutes into the draw with Rotherham, fans were groaning after witnessing backward passes, most notably those to goalkeeper Andy Fisher.
The same occurred in the 37th minute when Fisher received possession just outside his own box, although, 13 seconds later Joel Piroe put Morgan Whittaker through on goal, with Viktor Johansson doing well to deny the Swansea attacker.
Let's not forget that, against Blackpool earlier this month, Swansea's opener started with Fisher having the ball at his feet and being bold to find a team-mate as part of a move that led to Matty Sorinola opening the scoring.
One particular moment against Rotherham, highlighted by Martin, typified the situation.
"There was a guy screaming at me to take Andy Fisher off, sarcastically clapping when he kicked it. Then we scored a goal that Fish started with his feet and he started celebrating, that sort of stuff is frustrating, but that's football," said Martin.
"I'm not sure how he thinks that helps Andy Fisher perform really. Fish will be good for this experience, a guy who has come from League One, you either sink or you swim. He's not in a different position to a lot of the other young lads. People are entitled to their opinion, but it's not helpful."
However, there were other instances against Rotherham where Fisher took immense risks and was ultimately caught out, putting his side under huge pressure after losing the ball in dangerous positions. This has happened far too often from the Swans collectively this term, not just Fisher or Steven Benda.
Following what has been a wretched run of results, the concern and frustration of the Jack Army is entirely understandable. But Martin stated after the clash with Rotherham that the jeers did little to help the already fragile confidence of his young squad.
"We're just a team going through a really tough moment, a bit low on confidence and so much anxiety in our game, the way we started the game summed that up," he said.
"The whole performance just fed off that anxiety really, and anxiety and fear kills creativity and freedom. It makes your legs feel heavy on the pitch. I've been there as a player.
"When we finally got a grip on the game and changed shape and scored I thought it would settle everyone down. Then, right at the end of the first half, summed up the whole thing really.
"We were in their box, we had a chance to go one-v-one with someone, I think it was Ollie [Cooper] who has been outstanding, he turns back and passes it backwards and there's even more anxiety with the performance."
A change in shape on the half hour mark was key to Swansea's first-half improvement and led to Piroe giving the hosts the lead just before the break. However, as was the case against the likes of Blackburn, Blackpool and Birmingham, the Swans were nowhere near good enough in the second-half.
They have been far too passive after restarts of late while there has been a severe lack of energy, directness and boldness in attacking areas. It has, at times, been alarmingly ponderous.
The numbers back it up. Swansea had just two touches in Rotherham's box in the second-half on Monday night. Indeed, the Millers had more shots on target in the game than the hosts while they achieved double as many shots at goal.
And so to the boos. "I think Rotherham will be disappointed they didn't come away with the three points, I thought they were the better team," Clinton Morrison said during Sky Sports' post-match analysis of the game.
"Everyone can look at the stats and the possession from Swansea, Swansea never really hurt Rotherham in the second-half and that's why they got booed off. We've probably all been booed, it happens, fans pay their hard earned money, they're entitled to their opinions, tonight's performance wasn't good enough, and it will make those players stronger."
He went on to add: "They have so much possession, they're in the final third and they end up going back to recycle the ball. If I'm the centre forward in that team, I'm not happy because you can play all of the attractive football, but the aim of the game is to put the ball in the net.
"Only having two touches (in the opposition box in the second-half) is nowhere near good enough so you can understand why the Swansea fans are frustrated. If I'm the centre forward, I'm thinking 'get crosses into the box, get people around me'."
The atmosphere was far from toxic, although the nervousness and anxiety was evident far too often. And Paul Robinson, another pundit in the studio, feels Martin's demeanour in his post-match press conference typified the mood of the club at present.
"It's difficult playing in a stadium like that," said Robinson. "The atmosphere in the stadium wasn't one of buoyancy, it wasn't one of a team that's on the up.
"The manager's persona after the game reflected that and it's very difficult to get players to play in an environment like that. The fans are right, they expect better."
January and summer concerns
Martin once again referenced his side's shambolic January transfer window when picking the bones out of the clash with Rotherham.
It's no secret that the opening month of the year was a mess for the club, with no additions being made.
Hannes Wolf and Cyrus Christie were cited as examples of players who came into the club midway through last season to make a telling impact in the final months of the campaign. That has not been the case this time around.
Then there's the summer ahead.
Ryan Manning is expected to leave while others including Kyle Naughton and Joel Latibeaudiere will be out of contract following the conclusion of the current campaign.
Joel Piroe, Steven Benda and Jay Fulton will enter the final year of their deals while Jamie Paterson (remember him?) also remains on the books, despite being cast aside by Martin.
There has been real uncertainty around numerous aspects of the running of the club, and it has fed into what has been a crippling hangover from a brutal January transfer window.
One of the latest concerns to emerge was Martin's admission that some players are already looking ahead to the summer, despite the fact there are 12 games remaining of the current campaign.
"We need people to be really all in for the rest of the season because I think we have too many lads who are already focusing on the summer and what's going to happen with their situation," he added.
"That's not conducive to our performance, especially the way we play because you need to be all in to do it. The lads in the dressing room spoke about the pride at the identity we have, their belief in what we're doing and we now really need to show it on the pitch where it matters. It's affected us recently. They have a choice, they're either really all in or they can come and sit next to us and see what happens."
The solution is far from easy, particularly with funds so severely lacking. But situations need to be resolved where possible, and swiftly, to avoid any further damage between now and the summer.
The run-in
With all of this in mind, Swansea must now refocus and put their full energy into Saturday's clash with Luton Town.
The very fact Martin hinted that playing away from home could well benefit his players was telling.
"Maybe an away game, it'll be a really good atmosphere, a tough place to go, is the kind of game we need right now," he said of the upcoming contest with the Hatters.
However, one quote in particular was also worth highlighting given the desperation to secure a positive result at present. "It really doesn't matter how we play at the moment, we need to try and find a way to win and I'm sure we will," Martin added.
That could well suggest a change in approach over the coming weeks - which see Swansea face Luton, Middlesbrough, Millwall and Bristol City before the international break.
Collectively, the club must pick itself up, which, granted, is far easier to say than do. Paul Robinson suggests that has to start with the manager himself.
"A very downbeat interview, very subdued and very quiet," said Robinson of Martin's post-match comments after the Rotherham game. "He mentioned January and the youthfulness of the group.
"He obviously feels he's been let down by certain areas of the club that he hasn't been backed. But you look at the side and you should be performing better.
"You see his persona in the interview, they're not in a good run of form at the moment, but if he spoke to his players like that after the game, you wonder what type of message he's giving to his players.
"He just didn't fill me with a 'let's get up and at them and finish as strong as we can this season'."
Liam Cullen can feel desperately unlucky not to have started any of the last four matches having recently gone on a run of scoring five times in seven matches after the 3-3 draw with Coventry City.
Harry Darling certainly hasn't been helped by being in and out of the side, but, the reality is, there aren't a significant amount of personnel changes available.
But for the weeks ahead before Wales kick-start their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign against Croatia and Latvia, there may well need to be a plan B.
"I think Russell Martin is a good manager, I think he will get time at that football club," added Morrison.
"I do like teams that play out from the back, but if it's not working with a plan A, you have to have a plan B, and at the moment, I don't see that with Swansea.
"But I think he's a good manager, he'll get it right there. But they need to get results, you've got to beat the likes of Rotherham."
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