"It's wasn't just the manner of the defeat," said Coleman to the CT. "And I'm not one to hide my players from talking to the press just because we've lost a game. I have great respect for the journalists covering the club day-in-day-out.
"But I just thought it was time for them to think long and hard about the season so far and not to come out talking about it.
"I believed on Tuesday that I should come out and explain my thoughts to the fans but I wanted the players to reflect. I don't get carried away with league tables at this stage, but we dropped from sixth to 17th in the space of a few days.
"We need to address what's happening and we have to do it immediately.
"For too long since Coventry City were relegated from the Premier League it's been a case of what might have been and how we nearly did this or that. I am sure the fans don't want to hear that all the time.
"They are desperate for success and they deserve it and so does this club. It's a massive club with a terrific history, but it's been going round in circles for too long from that point of view and we have to change that.
"Nobody wants anything like a repeat of last season and it's up to us to put it right on the pitch."