Colin Nish admits Cowdenbeath have to find a way of ending their poor away form after slumping to rock bottom of League One.
The Fifers crashed 5-0 to rampant leaders Ayr United at Somerset Park and have now lost all five away games.
Alarm bells are ringing after a woeful defensive show which saw a goal conceded after only 29 seconds to set the tone for a miserable afternoon.
Boss Nish reflected: “We keep losing early goals away from home, which always make it difficult.
“For the next seven or eight minutes we looked OK and I thought we were going to get a wee reaction, but then we lost another one.
“Our home form is good but we’ve got to find a way of doing better away and give some reward for the fans who travel.”
On-loan teenage Blackburn striker Jordan Preston fired Ayr ahead in their first attack after some comic-cut defending left keeper Jamie Sneddon exposed.
It was 2-0 in 19 minutes when Bradley Donaldson could only divert an Alan Forrest drive into his own net.
Gordon Smith made a mess of Cowden’s only first-half chance when he side-footed the ball straight at Greg Fleming to give the keeper an easy save.
Three minutes after the interval Gerry McLauchlan was allowed a free header from a corner for number three.
Brian Gilmour then found the net from a superb Alan Trouten lay-off.
On-loan Motherwell striker Craig Moore completed a sorry day for the outplayed Central Park side when he turned home a pass from sub Ross Caldwell.
Greig Spence ballooned over, while Gordon Smith had a faint penalty shout denied as the visitors tried in vain for a late consolation.
They finished a well-beaten team, and Nish faces a real battle to lift his crestfallen side before their next game at home to Stenhousemuir a week on Saturday.
Ayr stay a point clear of Dunfermline at the top and are now six ahead of third-placed Forfar, who they face next.