In journalism it's sometimes wise to step back from a story for 24 hours and let the heat die down. File a report on the final whistle and you write from the gut, say what you see. The adrenalin is still pumping. Later in the week your leader writers get the chance to sit back and craft a more measured piece for reflective debate. Therefore I took solace last night in some wine with friends before filtering through the feedback from all sides this morning.

Knocked for six as I was by Fulham's capitulation Sunday at the Cottage, if you refer to my preview piece I sensed the omens were bad ahead of City's visit, but hesitated to post negatively going into a vital game. I called it a watershed, and it was certainly that - a real pasting on home soil. Make no mistake, the relegation fight starts as of now. It will be a real test of character for Hughes and his staff to haul morale back up for the Brum game on Saturday. After that, away trips to Arsenal and Anfield sandwiched by a visit from Sunderland...ouch.

The City result surprised me not a jot, I flagged up the Tevez threat, leaving Gera out of the starting line-up was - yet again - a major aberration. Were City actually that good, or are we currently that bad? Poorly directed clearances directly contributed to three of the goals, Salcido's positioning at fault for the killer 3rd, though why did we allow City the freedom of the pitch to pass their way up to the box? Some people are seeking comfort from the fact we stepped it up in the 2nd half. Truth is, City had us by the throat and eased back. Yet again, as at Chelsea, Joe Hart not tested at all in the first 45.

I'm sitting here biting my fingers to refrain from slagging off AJ up front, as the service from midfield is non-existent, but he's increasingly starting to look a clone of David Healy, and the whole side now has the whiff of Sanchez about them.

I guess you can't blame Hughes for the way form has totally deserted Duff, and Murphy and Etuhu to a lesser extent. Davies should never have been given another contract in my opinion. But as we now have NO midfield engine at all to speak of, the pressure on our usually so reliable back line will increase, we are devoid of firepower up front, and losing can quickly become a habit. You could also point to 20% of our game last season coming from team spirit, which also seems to be lacking.

Managers do not tend to knee-jerk reactions. What has disappointed me in the aftermath is how quick our manager has been to focus on City's 'outstanding' performance and their 'clear title credentials' instead of focusing on his own team's capitulation.

We know Hughes' options are severely limited with Dembele and Zamora sidelined. But surely he cannot send out the same underperforming eleven for the relegation six-pointer with Birmingham? Push Baird into a 5 man midfield and restore Paintsil, make Gera your target man, and chance young Alexander Kacaniklic on the wing. Desperate times call for desperate measures. But then I don't pick the team. And before Bobby's back at this rate we will be starting the New Year in the bottom three.

Like some others, I'm beginning to question if Mark is just an unlucky manager, or if indeed he has the flexibility and sense to initiate change. Not only Sunday, but it hasn't been working now - apart from Wigan - for quite a while. And apologies to Bowie for messing with his lyrics.
Twitter@fulhamphil