A LATE flurry of goals saw Albion Under-18s suffer a 5-0 beating at Liverpool in the FA Premier Academy League (Group C) last weekend.
The luckless Baggies were only 1-0 down heading into the last 20 minutes but a second for the Reds opened the floodgates.
Albion have now lost seven successive games, leaving Michael Appleton calling for a fresh start in the New Year.
"In all honesty, it sounds like we had a bit of a beating," said the Hawthorns coach.
"But their second goal didn't come until around 70 minutes and when it did, it killed us a little bit.
"Because of the run we're on, confidence is low and the lads are suffering.
"We haven't been clinical in either box in the last few weeks.
"We're creating several one-on-one opportunities a game and not taking them, whereas we're getting punished in our own box.
"This is the hardest period I've ever had on the other side of the line as a coach.
"If it makes me a better coach and makes them better players, so be it.
"The ones who are strong enough, including me, will come through.
"Football's about seeing who's good and who can handle situations when the going gets tough.
"We've got a couple of weeks away from each other now over Christmas.
"We start fresh again in January and I'm going to try and freshen things up by moving people about, bringing people in and trying some more younger players.
"We've already given ten more appearances to Under-16 players than we did last year and we've still got around 11 games to go.
"That's a fair indication of where we are.
"We'll see if that makes us better prepared for next season.
"Only time will tell."
ALBION: Carlin; Mason (Hancox 20), Pike, Holmes, Hurst; Samuels, Bruce (Knight 75), Saied (Nicholls 75), Sawyers; Alliyu, Morrison.
Women
Albion ladies got back to winning ways with a 7-0 drubbing of Studley in the County Cup third round on Sunday.
Hayley Phillipowsky fired a hat-trick and Abbie Hinton, Louise Fellows, Kayleigh Steele and Amy Rippington also got on the scoresheet.
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