Liam Wright won't let Brad Thorn take the heat for another missed opportunity after the Queensland Reds lost a 12th-straight game to the injury-hit Crusaders.
The defending champions were missing a slew of A-listers headlined by David Havili, Sevu Reece, Jack Goodhue and Sam Whitelock.
But they didn't need them, the Reds squandering early chances to build a lead before falling 25-12 on Friday at Suncorp Stadium.
There were improvements defensively and less "stupid errors" but the theme continued for Thorn's men following a frustrating loss to Melbourne Rebels, dropping the Reds to 2-4 this season.
"Nailed it ... same old story," Thorn said.
"Find ways to not capitalise on opportunities. So much heart ... just frustrating.
"You probably question yourself most of your life around things. You're just a human being.
"We're working hard ... ultimately I'm the head coach, it's on me."
Wright interjected though.
"(They) aren't the ones out there making the continuous errors," he said.
"We're confident with the game plan, we're just not executing and that's on us.
"We found ways to get down there but couldn't put the icing on the cake."
Reds playmaker James O'Connor endured a night of mishaps that began early when his penalty kick for touch went dead in-goal.
Demoted as goal-kicker, he watched replacement Isaac Henry go one-from-three before resuming the duties and hitting the post himself with a late penalty miss.
He also missed a tackle for the Crusaders' first try, gave possession away with some poor in-game kicking and failed to marshal his troops when the Reds did hold the ball.
Winger Suliasi Vunivalu was also quiet in a 60-minute stint but, ahead of Sunday's squad announcement from new coach Eddie Jones, other Wallabies hopefuls did press reasonable cases.
Jordan Petaia was full of confidence in a season-best showing in a reminder of his worth, scoring a late try thanks to a neat grubber from Tate McDermott.
The halfback came to life too, energetic with the ball as the Reds tried to play with pace.
Despite missing a host of point-scoring chances the Reds only trailed 15-7 at halftime, McDermott finishing a neat play that began with O'Connor and Jock Campbell down the right flank.
Earlier, two breaks through the guts of the Reds' defence led to tries to Crusaders Leicester Fainga'anuku and Dom Gardiner.
Willi Heinz scored first after the break for the visitors, the try standing despite replays suggesting the ball had been promoted to the line inside the ruck.
Petaia's try kept the Reds close but Richie Mo'unga kicked the Crusaders clear, the Reds butchering late chances to rescue a bonus point when they twice overplayed their hands to lose possession close to the line.
The Crusaders are 4-2 now after wins over the ACT Brumbies and Reds in the last fortnight despite their mass casualties.
"It's important to trust the young group and they performed," Crusaders coach Scott Robertson said.
"We had to keep the momentum ... the young fellas, they go out and they're brave."