READING boss Nigel Adkins could turn to the emergency loan market in a bid to revive his team's fortunes following their 3-0 home defeat to Derby County.
The Royals are now without a win in six matches in all competitions and are 16th in the Championship table.
Goals from Chris Martin (2) and Jordon Ibe secured victory for the Rams at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.
"It's a bad result," said Adkins.
"We've got to address the defending and I cannot go on saying 'we've done OK' when we've conceded three goals.
"The lads' attitude is top drawer but we can't carry on conceding three.
"Something has to happen. Whether it's personnel, the emergency loan market, it's something we've got to look at."
Adkins added: "We started brightly and were getting balls into the final third.
"But at 2-0 down, the whole complexion of the game changed.
"It's all about what you do in both penalty areas. You've got to be ruthless in one and resilient in the other.
"But for all the positive stuff going on for us, it's a bad scoreline.
"You can't hide away from that or gloss over it because it's about winning games of football.
"You can't concede the goals we've conceded. It's becoming a repetitive theme and we've got to sort it out."
