County chief Christian Fuchs was understandably downcast after his men failed to grasp the opportunity of climbing out of the League Two relegation spots after a 3-0 reverse to fellow strugglers Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium.
Young borrowed Tottenham attacker Yusef Akhamrich was the chief writer in this tale of woe for the Port - firing two goals in 18 first-half minutes, a late Pirates third from top scorer Swiss marksman Fabrizio Caveen confirming a result that was realistically confirmed a long time before that.
Home fans, who had seen their team slump in eight successive matches at BS7, thought they were in dreamland singing, "It's like watching Brazil!"
But this was no joke for embattled County who receive Grimsby at Rodney Parade next Saturday before the dates at promotion-seeking Swindon, MK Dons and Salford later in February.
Fuchs pulled no punches after a thrashing witnessed by almost 1.400 travelling Port fans in a gate of over 8,500, declaring, "As long as we stick together, we'll be alright. There are still 18 games to go. We can't split up, we must stick together now"
After the afternoon's results, County look at a table that now shows them three points from safety - Shrewsbury in 23rd spot, but with a fractionally better goal difference than the Exiles. Rovers and Barrow are locked together just above the Shrews on 24 points.
Asked if he acknowledged County were in a relegation scrap, Fuchs answered, "We understand the position we are in. This result is very poor, but we must now remember the good things we've done in games and recall the moments we have played well.
"Today we made too many bad errors and gave away two cheap goals. We didn't clear our lines. We are not making it easy for ourselves. It's time for us to put talk into practice during games.
"It's the same old story. We need to be better with the ball and know just when in games to play.
"Our second half performance today showed what we are capable of, but we are chasing too many games."
County brought five new faces in during a January transfer window which slams shut at 19.00 next Monday. Quizzed if more squad strengthening would be seen Fuchs said, " Maybe we'd want another one or two more players..
"It's getting a bit short of time now, though. Any new players coming in would need time to adapt into how we play."
