West Brom boss Eric Ramsay insists he knew the challenge he signed up for after his Baggies side were dominated by relegation rivals Portsmouth in a 3-0 defeat.
Ramsay replaced Ryan Mason in the Hawthorns hot seat 20 days ago, but has failed to turn around the poor form with three defeats and a draw.
Pompey trio Conor Chaplin, Millenic Alli and Ebou Adams had the latest failing won inside 48 minutes, which led to chants of “Eric Ramsay, your football is s***” from the away fans.
The beleaguered Baggies have won just once in nine matches, have not won on the road since the start of October and sit just three points outside the relegation zone.
Ramsay said: “I knew the level of challenge I was coming into. I hoped the first four games had gone differently and when we got to this stage, we were in a different situation.
“The reality means I have to stay level, stay constructive and keep the group on track. I have to believe I can get more out of the group.”
Portsmouth blew their visitors away in the first half as Chaplin swept home his first goal in his second spell at his boyhood club before Alli got in behind and fired under Max O’Leary.
Adams added a third just three minutes into the second half, and Ramsay said: “It was a really tough one. It has got no easier after that result and performance, but we have to own the performance and take accountability and look inwards.
“It is difficult to say there has been a huge uplift in performance since I have been here. We are very disappointed that we haven’t been able to move the group further along.
“There will be no blindly following a path without adjustment. We will take a really good look at how we move forward.
“We need to address some of the basics like fighting for second balls. We also need to look at macro and systematic factors. I certainly won’t be blaming individual players.”
On the other hand, Pompey head coach John Mousinho was thrilled to leapfrog the Baggies and make it four matches unbeaten in the league.
“I think it was the best performance of our season and a really important result as well,” he said.
“Everything we have spoken consistently over the last few months, they really put together today.
“From the first minute, we pinned them in and won the physical duels and were willing to play and go beyond. We came on top in the small moments in the game.
“That performance has been building. We have put together some decent performances and what had been missing was putting the ball in the net. That was the big difference today.”
