Bengaluru FC head coach Simon Grayson tore into his players after they lost 0-4 to Mumbai City FC in an Indian Super League (ISL) match at the Sree Kanteerava stadium on Friday.

The Islanders dominated from the word go and the home side were never in the game and fell to their fourth defeat in nine matches this season. The Englishman believed the result wasn't a surprise as his were well below par on the night.

“It was men against boys. It was embarrassing. It was a lacklustre performance,” Grayson said after the game.

“We did the basics wrong. We didn't pass it to a blue shirt and kicked it out instead. We didn't stay with the runners. We had no competitive edge to us,” he added.

“None of our players are showing any basic fundamentals to be professional footballers. Some old and experienced players should be looking at themselves and questioning themselves,” he continued.

Grayson believed his team didn’t show any hunger or desire on the pitch to have any chance of getting a result against a quality team like Mumbai City FC.

“What sums up the difference between us and Mumbai City FC is that they even in the 88th or 89th minute were putting their bodies on the line and making blocks to keep a clean sheet. None of our players have done this today or have done it in the last few weeks,” he said.

“I don't think we as coaching staff could do much more here. We work hard on preparation for games. There is a lot of time and effort that goes into it. But players have to take responsibility,” he added.

The Englishman wasn’t concerned about his future as Bengaluru FC head coach after just one win in nine games this season but felt some of the performances reflected badly on his players.

“I'm never fearful for my job. I've been in the game for 18 years. I know what it's all about. Everyone looks over their shoulders when they get bad results,” he said.

“What will happen will happen but the biggest concern is the performance of some of the players who whether I'm here or not will have to show a lot more steel, application, desire because their futures are on the line as well. Some of these are only 22 or 24. Performances like this aren't going to keep them in football,” he added.

Grayson suggested that the team have consciously tried to include more youngsters in the team and it’s a decision they need to stick with even if it has come at the cost of losing some key experienced players.

“The club is going through a different phase than what it's used to. In the summer we made a conscious decision to let some experienced players go and bring in younger players,” he said.

“There is no doubt about it that we certainly miss somebody like Sandesh Jhingan. He is a leader, puts in his tackles, and talks to people around him. That's a decision that's probably come back to haunt us a little bit as well. We probably don't have enough vocal leaders in the group,” the former Leeds United manager added.

The head coach though was moved by the support his team has received from the fans despite poor performances and hailed the Bengaluru FC fans as the heartbeat of the team.

“I am amazed that our supporters are still singing songs about our football club to our players. Full credit to our supporters they keep backing the team when some of the players don't deserve the backing that they have had,” he said.

“Players and coaches come and go but the supporters stay. They are the heartbeat of our team,” he concluded.

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