Blues boss Paul Hurst says Tuesday’s flight home was very quiet following the on-penalties defeat to Exeter City and his harsh post-match comment on his players’ display at St James Park, however, he felt there was a positive reaction at training today with no one sulking.
"It was, extremely quiet,” he reflected on the flight back to Stansted. "I wouldn’t have expected anything different.
"A lot more serious things happen in life than losing a game of football and one of those most obvious things is losing someone and it felt a bit like that, a bit of sort of mourning going on.
"I think that was partly what we’d said, the fact we’d been knocked out of the competition and I think we knew we should have won that game.
"That all contributed to it. But that’s fine for that day. I certainly wouldn’t expect people laughing and joking at that stage.
"But then they’ve had the day to get themselves together, maybe spend a bit of time with family, with their kids.
"Those that are lucky enough to have kids, that’s a great way to try and take your mind off it, get you back to reality and hopefully - and they seemed it this morning at least - ready to go and think about the next challenge ahead.”
How have the squad reacted to his somewhat scathing assessment of their performance after the game? Sometimes that can go one of two ways with players.
"Yes, perhaps it can,” he added. "I was asked whether those words were spoken to try and spark a reaction for Saturday. I hope there is a reaction but it wasn’t done with that intention. It was more about me just being me.
"I don’t try and say things to try and fool people or to put on a show. It’s the way that I’ve always been as a manager and it’s served me pretty well so far.
"Now if some individuals can’t take those words then, while it might be my problem as well, there’s an element that it’s also theirs.
"I think it’s how you react after that and if in general they see me as someone that will talk to them, treat them well, then I don’t think it should be an issue.
"And I think that’s probably what’s happened in the past. I’ve sometimes heard little comments throughout my career and I think if they’d had some of the managers that I’ve had and some of the stories that you hear still about the way people are treated, they would really struggle at other places.
"So I don’t see it being an issue. If it is, it is. I’d have to live and die by that, but I’m not going to change the way that I’ve managed and the way that I feel is best because someone maybe has got an ego that can’t take that.
"I’ve said from the start, I’m not into egos, I’m into trying to win games of football. And the players are, so it shouldn’t be an issue.
"And that’s what I’m hoping. I didn’t see anyone sulking around today, so hopefully it's been and gone and we’re on to the next one.”
He says the reaction was positive at Thursday training: "We were off Wednesday, again a question was asked after the game about getting them in for training and all that, but I didn’t see a value in doing that.
"I came in so it’s not like it was, ‘Oh, I just want to stay at home and sulk in bed’, but I think the rest was important, they were back late.
"Irrespective of what we felt about the game there was a large physical element to it. The running stats were high from that point of view, so we’re in today and the lads have been fine, to be honest.
"Hopefully that’s partly due to the way we’ve been around them, we’ve not got a big stick and are beating them or are not speaking to people.
"I think they know my thoughts on the other night, that hasn’t changed but at the same time we’ve got a game to try and win against Aston Villa and that’s where the focus is now very much on, albeit we’ll show them some clips to make them aware of things that we don’t feel were right or were not happy with.
"But not as a punishment, it’s about trying to get better and improve, and that they can hopefully take on board for future games.”
Have the players had a meeting among themselves? "I think I heard something mentioned, a suggestion that that might be a good idea. What I would say is that I think we can very quickly get carried away with whatever people perceive as ‘a situation’.
"We’re three games in, we played pretty well against Blackburn, got a point, admittedly via a late goal but I think we were worthy of at least a point.
"We played well at Rotherham, we didn’t win the game, accepted, but there were lots of positives and if you get maybe a penalty decision or take one of those chances we could be sat here having a very different conversation.
"Midweek I wasn’t happy, clearly. But lots of teams seem to suffer the same fate in that competition, sometimes admittedly with weaker teams and we went pretty strong.
"But it’s certainly not time to start panicking. I was asked a question on Tuesday about concerns and I said I could understand some people having them [given the lack of a win so far], but I think it’s too early to get into those conversations and from my point of view I want to look on the positive side and really look forward to what’s a very big game for us against very tough opposition.”
Despite the Blues not yet having won under his management he says there are players who have done enough to seal a regular place in the side.
"I think some have,” he continued. "I think overall if I come to pick the team and there are some names that I know will be on the teamsheet and then one or two others are slightly debatable and one or two others will be on the fringes hoping that they might get an opportunity.
"But I’ve seen quite a lot of positives. It’s just I guess you’ve seen me when I’ve done my post-match interviews and I’m not going to throw those at you because of the results.
"I hate watching managers and it just sounds like they’re trotting excuses out and that’s not really my style.
"When in the cold light of day when you’ve looked at things more objectively perhaps, there are some things that have been good, we just want one of those results to back that up.”
He admits the Blues are going into a tough four-game period prior to the international break with Saturday’s game against Villa at Portman Rad followed by Tuesday’s trip to Derby, then a visit to Sheffield Wednesday and then the home East Anglian derby against Norwich City.
"You’re constantly assessing, of course, but it feels, and I’m not sure why, a little bit different to some of the seasons that I’ve had where we’ve probably had a very similar schedule but I don’t feel like we’ve had time to breathe," he said.
"It’s like we’re straight on to the next one. I’m used to that in terms of the games but it seems a little bit different.
"Once we get through these four games there is a bit of time to really sit and reflect and analyse, assess what’s been before and what needs to stay the same, what needs to change during that break.”
Hurst says he’ll not put a timescale on when his project at Town can be judged: "A lot managers say [two or three transfer windows] and I dare say some say it genuinely and some say it to try and give themselves time.
"I’m not going to put a timeframe on that. In the end that will be down to the owner, fans will make their own minds up no matter what I say, you guys [the media] will make your minds up no matter what I say.
"I’m not going to say that, but I think logic suggests it will take time. We’re not coming in and have tweaked one or two things, there has been quite a big turnaround in players and we’re still looking to do that.
"There’s been a big change in terms of what’s been asked of the players. There was a cry for change and then it’s like, ‘Did we want that change?’ and that’s life.
"And again, I know what happens, results make the change right if they’re positive and if they’re negative it’s, ‘Careful what you wish for’. Again, that’s life.
"But overall, for me, some of those players have been with us a week near enough, so you can’t expect everything to click.
"I think you’ve already found it’s part of me that I want it to, I almost expect it to, but realistically it’s not going to. We want it to happen as soon as possible.”