Bryan Redpath said his Gloucester side are "cutting our own throats" after watching them comprehensively beaten 35-6 at home by Wasps.
Gloucester coach says side "are lacking massively in confidence"
After watching Gloucester comprehensively beaten 35-6 at home by Wasps, head coach Bryan Redpath said his side are "cutting our own throats".
The Cherry and Whites dropped two places down the Guinness Premiership table to ninth after a woeful defensive display which saw them concede four tries in all.
In contrast, the London side are now up to second with five victories in six league games.
Redpath admitted that Gloucester, who finished top of the Premiership in 2007 and 2008 seasons, are lacking in confidence.
They have only beaten a poor Bath side on the opening day of the league season and Leeds Carnegie so far.
Redpath said: "We didn't create enough pressure to get points. We won't hide from the fact that it was a poor performance and, if you perform like that, you are never going to compete.
"They were excellent and defended well. We are lacking massively in confidence and I don't question our work ethic but there are a lot of things to do.
"Everyone has to be realistic and know what their part in the game is. If someone has not got a clear understanding of it, they must say. Sometimes people hide behind barriers.
"For me, it is a tough time in my career as a coach. I won't hide from my responsibility and I certainly won't hide from taking responsibility for this heavy defeat at home which is disappointing.
"We are not making it difficult for anyone to beat us at the moment. It is pretty easy at the moment. There are a lot of one-on-ones that (the players) are falling off and that is the key. It is about you making the tackle on your opposite number.
"If players don't have confidence in each other, then it spreads across the side. At the moment, we are cutting our own throats.
"You have to be honest and not frightened to admit that you have not performed. We are low and I am very honest about things but it does not mean you have to speak to someone for a week about it.
"It is always constructive criticism but you have to be man enough to take it."
Cheekbone scare
After taking a 13-6 half-time lead - Dominic Waldouck touching down for the visitors - Wasps were excellent in the second half as two touchdowns by full-back Mark Van Gisbergen and one from ex-France legend Serge Betsen completed the bonus-point win.
However, Waldouck also suffered a suspected fractured cheekbone after a clash of heads during the second half.
Director of rugby Tony Hanks said: "Dominic has gone to hospital to look at his cheekbone. That would be a big loss to us if we lost him."
Hanks also praised Joe Simpson's performance and thinks the scrum-half could earn himself an England call-up for the autumn internationals.
He added: "As a Wasps coach, I would love him to be playing for us in the next month but we will be the first people to shake his hand if he gets an England call.
"He is a quality player and is improving each week. He is playing well for us and the team is playing well around him."
As for the game, Hanks added the victory was "built on the way we defended in the first half and the way we responded to the pressure.
"Our effort and intensity in those 50-50 situations was good."