Chris, who came on for Rufus Brevett as the Hammers chased the game on Tuesday, says candidly:
"For all the fans that came I can only really apologise on behalf of everyone because that was not the performance of the side I have been with for past six or seven weeks - and I think we all know that.
"We were all disappointed with Saturday at Plymouth, but to follow that up with Tuesday night puts a big significance on the game against QPR this weekend.
"I think every time we take a step forward and win a game or two, like we did with the home games against Stoke and Gillingham, we take a few more steps backwards, and for a side that is aiming for promotion we shouldn't be doing things like that.
"There will be a bit of soul-searching now and I think every single player, whether they are involved or not, has to contribute now to our build-up to Saturday."
Chris knows that there will be several days of discussions about what went wrong at Ninian Park, and he adds:
"I think we will talk but action has to speak now and we have to produce; the boss clearly wasn't too complementary to anyone after the game - and deservedly so.
"We are going to have to take it on the chin after losing to a side that hasn't been doing well this season but, we were led to believe, did very well at the weekend - and we saw their abilities at first hand."
Chris believes that the first quarter of an hour set the tone and adds:
"The start was important to both sides and if we had quietened the crowd down, who are very vociferous and get behind them, we could have actually built on something - but we gave them two goals start.
"We actually created a few chances from where I was sitting, but we did look a bit edgy at times all over the park and we are going to have to address that.
"Watching it from the sidelines, away from home you have to quieten the other side down before you implement your own game and you have to withstand a barrage of crosses and shots - and if you do that the other side gets frustrated.
"It happens to us at home; if we don't start too well the other side gets a bit of belief and at the moment away from home, for a team of our quality and the players we have which hasn't won away from home since my first game, Sheffield United, it is not good enough to even think about top six never mind top two and we have to address that.
"We let ourselves badly down on the night; before I came on after 75 minutes I was hoping it wouldn't get to five or six, it looked so loose."
Chris concedes that some credit must go to the opposition as well, and he adds:
"They took full advantage and fair play to them; young Jobi obviously had a point to prove and they have got some decent players there.
"Kavanagh is a player people have always talked about, Gabbidon as well - and they produced on the night when we didn't."
Chris insists that it is time to stand up and be counted now and explains:
"We are going to have to rally together and that is the only way to go forward; if we start blaming one another and don't stick together as a strong unit we have got no chance - but I know we have, and I think everyone else knows it.
"It is a blip on the radar - and let's hope that is all it is."
What surprises Chris is that, whoever has been in defence of late - and not forgetting that West Ham only lost 1-0 to a Chelsea side that has scored eight goals in their last two Premiership games - the rearguard has looked solid, and that no one could have anticipated Cardiff inflicting the heaviest defeat of the season upon the Hammers.
"The defence has altered a bit, whether through injuries or loss of form; Malky has come out, I have come out, Anton has come in for a few games, it has chopped and changed - but for the last few games the defence has been fine," he says.
"But sometimes away from home you have to look at the whole eleven defending - and going forward, of course.
"If you don't concede that is your starting point - but our only starting point on the night was when the whistle went, and after that we were 2-0 down and always fighting against it."
Chris is defiantly optimistic, however, and he explains:
"It is things like this - although it may not look it at the moment - that should stand us in good stead for our remaining away games.
"The next away one is Millwall away - and that is a good place to start getting the away form going.
"I see how we are at home, with QPR and Brighton coming up, and they are two games I feel we can get six points from.
"Then it is away, and if you get your away from right you are going to go up; I have been through it before, and the only way you get up is to make your away form as good as the home displays.
"Wigan are showing the way at the moment, and we have to take it on board, because if we do I think we can get up there."
In the meantime, though, it is two on the trot at Upton Park after three successive trips, and Chris says:
"We have only lost one game at home, against Wigan, early on, and since I have been here we have done really well at Upton Park.
"The fans are behind us always and I think, come Saturday, they will be again.
"We need to start fast and we need to have belief, and I think we can do that - we have a few days to prepare right, and that is the key.
"We have to get our mental state right because physically we are all right.
"We still have a few players to come back in Malky and Teddy and I still believe we have got the right players to get this club up."