Thomas Frank admitted he was trying to contain an internal hurricane as he was left enraged by Tottenham’s most abject performance of the season.

The spineless nature of Tottenham’s efforts at the City Ground has put Frank back in the spotlight and he accepts the pressure is on him – but he warned, firmly, that more change in the dugout will not solve the problems that have built up at the club over years.

Frank was appointed earlier this year to try to build on last season’s Europa League success but he continues to be undermined by the kind of display Tottenham produced that had their fans scuttling to the exits long before Nottingham Forest’s 3-0 win was confirmed.

The Dane was enraged with Tottenham’s passing, saying: ‘We decided to throw the ball away to them 25 times. You can’t do that. If you play a game like we did, it is very disappointing and I am burning, angry. It’s not the first time we have seen it.’

One of his strengths is his ability to communicate but it was clear that Frank was smouldering about several things he saw; he intends to speak with Djed Spence, too, after the full-back showed petulance on a couple of occasions when he was substituted in the 58th minute.

‘I think I do everything to control my emotions, said Frank. ‘There is a hurricane inside me, because, it's deeply frustrating we are not doing better (here) after three good performances. I think it is extremely important to be calm and measured and of course, have very direct and clear messages.

‘We will say it at the right time, so they're not in doubt of what I think. I'm very honest about where we are as well. I was also very honest – this was a very bad performance. No two ways about that, but also know that to change this, this will take some time.

‘No one will want to hear about that. It's just reality. I think the ones who have followed the club and the team, it's fair to say there's been a few not too consistent performances, and that's the thing. We are working very hard.’

Asked whether he would get the time to continue his work, he replied: ‘I can’t see why not. If no-one gets time, nothing gets changed. This is not a quick fix.’