So much so that last night he sent the players home with some homework to examine themselves and the team collectively and attempt to determine the reasons behind days such as Oxford (a), Sheffield Wednesday (a), and QPR (a).

It is not enough to only get rid of the particular mistakes.

Naturally, it’s a part of it—if you’re serious about making a late charge for the playoffs, they can’t continue to happe—

but it seems like there’s more going on here than simply the occasional careless error.

Something more basic. It can even be a mentality issue.

As a fan, you never want to hear the term that kept coming up yesterday, both during and after the game.

Complacency.

Yet it’s hard to contest. Especially when part of his own post-match analysis, JHT admitted that his men were

nothing like successful enough in winning their duels all over the pitch, particularly in midfield and in the full-back areas.

He stopped just short of questioning the players’ desire, effort, and commitment but not by much.

At home, aided by the comfort blanket that is Carrow Road, the question of desire and appetite is less of an issue. A

demanding home crowd soon identifies those whose focus has dipped below 100 per cent and so rarely does it occur.

Maybe it’s borne of complacency, or perhaps over-confidence, but whatever its root cause, it was costly yesterday and

has been on several occasions away from home this season.

But all of the above runs alongside some tactical and technical deficiencies that also need clearing up, and fast.

QPR’s second goal – the end result of a cheap Borja Sainz free-kick concession – must have been tough to watch

from the bench. Hours of working on set pieces at both ends of the pitch count for nothing when you give one of the

shortest men on the pitch a free header from seven yards.

And it’s not been lost on the head coach that while we are vulnerable from corners and set pieces that are launched

into our own box, we are ineffective at the other end from an attacking hue.

While JHT was quick to avoid throwing set-piece coach, Nick Stanley, under the bus, everything that Brighton fans

told us about said coach has, so far, come to fruition.

A few fancy signals, one decent delivery and one good header from Shane Duffy against Plymouth don’t yet equate to

a successful appointment.

But what we can expect are some personnel changes for Tuesday night. Who and in what positions we will have to

wait and see but no one is safe.

JHR told them yesterday at halftime that any of them could have been hooked. Therefore, by that same score, no one

is guaranteed a start at Portsmouth, which promises to be every bit as hostile, intimidating and challenging as Loftus

Road was yesterday.

Kellen Fisher – who let’s not forget has been brilliant for most of the season – didn’t have his best day yesterday, and

there’s no denying the extra balance that Ben Chrisene’s left foot brings to proceedings. But with Jose Cordoba fit

again, Thorup may opt to return Callum Doyle to left-back.

We all hope Emiliano Marcondes can be moved to a more central location, where his on-field relationship with Sainz

has begun to play a role, since his effect was less noticeable farther up the pitch in the advanced tole on the right-

hand side.

However, we should anticipate a response to any modifications that JHT decides to make. Another QPR would not

be acceptable. No one was exempt from duty from one to eleven, including those who came off the bench.

We had prepared for the fact that this would be a season of ups and downs. When you’re formally in transition, this is normal.

However, we hadn’t prepared for a complete absence in West London.

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