IF there was a more humiliating day to be associated with Bolton Wanderers, I have certainly not experienced it.

I sat and watched fans flee Wembley in tears when their team failed to turn up against Stoke City in the FA Cup semi-final… but they ‘had’ made it that far.

I shook my head in disbelief as Reading rattled seven past Dougie Freedman’s Whites at the Madejski… but everything the Royals hit that day went in.

On Saturday at Bristol City – a game that was supposed to herald a bright new dawn – words escaped me completely.

Never before have I seen a team throw the towel in with such readiness, look so thoroughly uninspired that you wondered if they wanted to be out there living every young boy’s dream at all?

Accusing players of a lack of effort is usually a lazy form of criticism but for moments at Ashton Gate it seemed entirely appropriate.

Wanderers began to plan for the future last week by parting company with manager Neil Lennon and instructing Jimmy Phillips to give youth a chance in the remaining nine games.

That in itself was an admission that the relegation fight was over – and more so when key players like Liam Feeney and Jay Spearing were cast aside.

It was a decision that stung but fans readily accepted it because it finally felt as if the club was heading somewhere. From here, the rest of the campaign was about who wants to join them on the journey. On this evidence, no-one.

Setting aside Kaiyne Woolery, whose youthful exuberance in the first half spares him from the worst of criticism, the others were, to a man, an embarrassment to a badge that still means so much to so many.

Through a car crash season Neil Lennon justified some of the club’s failures by admitting his players lacked quality. Just over two years ago Dougie Freedman signed his own P45 with the first admission that his players were “not good enough.”

Sooner rather than later, we are going to have to admit these men were right.

But while Wanderers fans have traditionally overlooked a less skilful player if his work-rate is good enough, they will not tolerate players who fail to put in the effort they demand. And that was definitely the case at Ashton Gate.

More than 700 fans followed their team down to Bristol hoping to witness some green shoots of recovery.

Jimmy Phillips’ appointment had been roundly praised, as had the return of Peter Reid as a helping pair of hands. Relegation may be a foregone conclusion but fans were looking forward to seeing who would step up to prove they wanted to be part of the next chapter.

Within three minutes we had an answer. Derik Osede – placed at right-back after the return of David Wheater in defence – was rolled rather to easily by Joe Bryan and when his shot was parried by Paul Rachubka, Aaron Wilbraham was there to stab the ball home.

A second goal followed seven minutes later. This time it was Dean Moxey who ball-watched as Lee Tomlin nipped in, held off Wheater and buried his shot into the bottom corner.

But for some random running by Woolery who lacked direction but not effort, Wanderers were second to everything.

Rob Holding got away with a clear push on Wilbraham that should have given the home side a penalty and Marlon Pack brushed the crossbar with a long-range effort.

By half time it already looked a case of damage limitation. Neil Danns came on for the anonymous Mark Davies to give Derik a semblance of protection.

Peter Odemwingie, the enigmatic Nigerian staple of transfer deadline day, was having the sort of afternoon he will save for his highlight reel.

He added a brilliant third after twisting past Wheater and Holding on the edge of the box after half time and slotting the ball into the bottom corner.

Tom Walker has been brought back by Phillips for his first start since August. The young midfielder had been marginalised by Lennon and was exactly the kind of player Phillips had to test out before the end of the campaign. He endured a thankless afternoon of poor set pieces, mis-placed passes and a shanked shot over the bar from Gary Madine’s cross.

Wanderers’ frustrations were showing as Vela and Holding picked up bookings for poor challenges.

But any vestiges of fight soon disappeared as the Robins powered through the final stages with three more goals.

Sub Scott Wagstaff turned in a low cross from Odemwingie, and then Jonathan Kodija – also off the bench – produced a classy header for the fifth.

There was still time for a sixth as Bryan completed a fine afternoon with an angled effort.

Any thoughts of a consolation were extinguished as Richard O’Donnell produced a fine save late on to deny Madine. But in truth, it would have been more than Wanderers deserved. Had Bristol City been in double figures it would only have reflected the flow of the game.

The back four had mustered just one tackle between four players, and as the players trudged back down the tunnel in front of the travelling supporters, few could make eye contact.

Dean Holdsworth, who had scrapped so hard to buy the club in the last few months, stood ashen-faced in the directors’ box. He must have wondered what he bought into.

We can only hope this was a flash in the pan, a club hitting rock bottom, because it is hard to imagine 90 minutes of football that could leave you feeling any worse.

Other than a contrite apology from the manager and another via social media from Wellington Silva – who came off the bench for 11 minutes only to limp off again with a hamstring problem – there was no word from the players, who were presumably hanging their head in shame in the dressing room.

And that says it all.