MK Dons captain Alex Gilbey says their 6-3 defeat by Newport County must serve as a “wake-up call” for the team.
It was the first time the Dons had conceded six goals in a league game since the club moved to the city from Wimbledon 20 years ago.
But despite the result, and a 1-0 home loss to Gillingham in their previous game, they are ninth in League Two and only point outside the play-off places.
“I didn’t expect that from this group. When you come away and do that, when you’ve got people travelling before Christmas, your fans, it’s embarrassing,” Gilbey told BBC Three Counties Radio.
“They were miles better than us in every department. If that’s not a wake-up for us as a group of lads, then I don’t know what is. It’s humbling.”
Bryn Morris and Bobby Kamwa both scored hat-tricks for Newport, while Luke Offord netted a double for MK Dons, either side of one from Joe White.
Gilbey accused his team-mates of failing to win “one single battle” during the course of the game.
“Mistakes happen, but it’s the bigger picture of getting out-run by people, people getting rag-dolled by players half their size,” the 30-year-old added.
“You can make mistakes, but when it comes to your pride, your identity and what you are as a man, it’s shocking.”
The Dons have two home games immediately following Christmas, against Notts County and Crewe Alexandra, both sides above them in the table.
Head coach Scott Lindsey admitted his team had not looked like themselves through the entire game against Newport.
“I’ll take responsibility, it’s my team, my tactics, my training methods, my fault,” he said.
“We went for a man-for-man press around the pitch, but we weren’t capable of dealing with their men at the top of the pitch well enough. I didn’t quite get it right and neither did the team.
“We’ve got to take our medicine and get prepared for a busy period now.”
