Alan McCormack has conceded that Brentford's slump in form this season is simply "not acceptable or good enough".
The Bees have struggled to push on from last term's top-six finish and are currently hovering just above the drop zone.
Two wins from the first eight games cost Marinus Dijkhuizen his job at Griffin Park last month, but Brentford have so far failed to push on in the early days of Lee Carsley's time in charge.
Despite this, McCormack insists that the atmosphere in training remains "pretty good" and each player retains hope of turning around the bad start to the campaign.
"It has been a tough week, something we knew from last year," he told the club's official website. "This week we have certainly had it thrown back at us and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were extremely hard. We always work at high levels but this week they got even tougher.
"The mood has been pretty good to be fair. The lads have been pretty good, enjoyed it and are now looking forward to a few days off. We have always enjoyed training and training has been really good but when you work as hard as we do sometimes the smiles aren't quite there.
"The position that we are in at the moment is spurring everybody on. To go from where we were last season to where we are this season is not acceptable or good enough from anyone. If they feel it is the fitness side of it then we have to get fitter, if they think it is the technical side we have to get better technically."
Brentford face Rotherham United once Championship action resumes on October 17.
