Steve Bruce thought he was back at school after watching his Hull side ship three goals inside eight minutes at Bolton.
City never recovered from their shocking opening despite Robbie Brady's goal, eventually slipping to a 4-1 defeat which left them outside the top two with 12 games to play.
And Bruce said: "I've had better days. That start is something you see at school. How can you explain it?
"It's one of those freak things. I have never been involved in something like that and I don't think it will happen again for a long time.
"You have to erase it and say 'it happens'. Sometimes a kick up the backside doesn't do anyone any harm now and again.
"We have been rock solid for seven months. The one thing we needed after that was a response and I think you saw there was one.
"But you know it's not your day when you score to make it 3-1 with 20-odd minutes to go and they go down the other end and score again.
"Bolton have got some good players yet when I looked this morning they were four points above the relegation area. That shows you how difficult this league is."
