Exeter City broke an unwanted record with Saturday’s brutal 7-0 hammering at league leaders Bolton Wanderers in Sky Bet League One.

The margin of defeat was the heaviest City have suffered in 65 years and extended the winless run to ten games in the league, a sequence that has taken the Grecians to just one point outside the relegation zone.

Thankfully, Exeter’s terrific start to the campaign has given them a cushion but there is no doubt about the visit of Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday night.

"It's embarrassing and not good enough from myself, the staff and the players," manager Gary Caldwell told the club website.

"We must all take accountability for this and stand up in this difficult moment to find a way to win a game on Tuesday. Everyone has to make sure this is rock bottom and we find a way to get out of it.

"We concede a poor goal (the first) and from there it became a difficult game. Too many people are not anywhere near it. There's not enough tackles, headers, stopping crosses, and we invited them to put us under pressure.

"When you're on a run like we are then confidence becomes affected and we have to do everything we can to build that back up.

"Injuries have led to a loss of form, a loss of form leads to a loss of confidence, and a loss of confidence leads to moments like today where when we concede and it's very difficult for them to play the way we want, on the front foot and be aggressive," he said.

"We have to find that resilience. It's not easy being a football player - I understand how difficult it is for them, and it's my job and the staff's job to help them in these moments.

"But we have to find it very quickly because we can't have many performances like that as it's not good enough."

The battering at Bolton began with first-half goals from Jack Iredale and Victor Adeboyejo, but it was the second-half capitulation that really hurt City fans, as the home side rattled in five more goals. The only way is up for Exeter City confidence and that journey needs to start now.