This is the most difficult article I've had to pen since Mark Hughes became the manager.

That's partly because, as a natural optimist, I always like to find something positive to say about the last performance and I'm struggling to think of anything.

In addition, after the Cup debacle I've had so many people telling me what I've got to write (including at least three saying: "don't be so nice to them") that I could fill a full page with fans' views.

On Saturday morning, I heard the old Madness record "You're An Embarrassment" and the words kept coming back to me towards the end of the game against Coventry, and seemed to sum up my feelings exactly.

It was not, however, simply a case of being embarrassed by the team's performance but also by the poor turn-out from the Blackburn public and complete lack of atmosphere from those 10,000 Rovers fans who did bother to turn up.

I honestly believe that the funeral atmosphere (to borrow a Fergie phrase) in the home sections of Ewood Park handed a massive psychological advantage to Coventry even before a ball was kicked.

The visiting fans were right to taunt us with the refrain: "Your Fans Are Ridiculous."

That the team selected went on to give a ridiculous performance was perhaps at least partly to do with a lack of vocal support.

It does not, of course, excuse the team from criticism, and it has to be admitted that this was not a one-off bad day at the office, but the most striking example to date of a general malaise that has been evident since the cursed manager of the month award for October.

Mark Hughes himself will be honest enough to admit that he made mistakes in team selection last Saturday and those errors appeared to be confounded rather than sorted by his substitutions.

In fairness, it's got to be acknowledged that Coventry and their fans were magnificent on the day and good luck to them in the competition.

So what has the optimist in me got to offer? Well, didn't we inflict a similar embarrassment on Everton in the same round last year, stuffing them 4-1 at Goodison?

I'm sure that hurt just as much as Oldham's surprise victory this week but Everton's season didn't implode.

In fact, they went on to qualify for Europe. We must hope that Mark Hughes and the board will realise that the squad players, and indeed some of the first team, are not good enough after all.

After failing at the first hurdle of the FA Cup, our season now depends upon keeping in the race for a UEFA Cup spot next season.

I was warned not to use the hackneyed phrase: "We can now concentrate on the league" and, in fact, it's unnecessary because that is all we have to focus on.

Frankly, if we play like we did against Coventry, concentrating on the league will mean scratching together the 10 points we need to ensure safety.

It is Mark Hughes' biggest task since he became our manager to press the refresh button for the remainder of the season and ensure that we have something that even the reluctant Rovers fans can sing about.

With Jason Roberts and Robbie Savage about to part company it's to be hoped that Mark won't decide to leave too or it will be like the break-up of Take That all over again.