Head coach Han Lik-Tsun was an inexplicable picture of calm after the drubbing, as he sat beatifically, waiting for the press, in the conference room. "It was a bad day all around, and the first poor showing of the season. My hands were tied as several of our key players hit a rough patch of form at the same time, but I'm sure we can pull back."

Han also reassured everybody in attendance that Grilled had the cash to splash if they needed to. "The money is all here." he said, gesturing to his pocket. "The moment the man we wants becomes available, it will come out. Of course, we won't be ripped off just because we can spend."

Grilled supporters however seem to be doubting his words, with many of them disappointed after reported interest in Costa Rican U-20 midfielder Franger Barrantes petered out into nothing. "He was priced reasonably at S$6.5 million." one commentator on the club forum complained. "If Han doesn't arrest this slide, and soon, we'll be back in the third division."

The loss left Grilled hovering precipitously over the drop zone, with only defeats by BDSM FC and ArseVikings keeping the Birds above water. Lee Siong Nie's excellent reaction poaching was not enough to keep Shining Lights at bay in a 1-2 defeat for BDSM, while ArseVikings showed little sign that they can survive as they were taken apart by newbies.

They did have star centreback Hamza Rahoua sent off for a horror tackle on Chew Woon Lee, who may be out for the best part of a month, and to rub it in, lost another defender in Piergiuseppe Massenzio through concussion. ArseVikings will likely not be eager to face CharlesCheesePie next Sunday, with the Serangoon side handing Arrogance their first league defeat.