Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy was today struggling to coming to terms with his latest rush of blood after his red card misery against Inter Milan.
It was a contrite 23-year-old who presented himself to the media as he left St James' Park last night knowing that his fifth-minute indiscretion had blasted a huge hole in his side's chances of getting the second stage of their Champions League campaign off to a winning start.
The Welshman was sent-off for lashing out at former Everton defender Marco Materazzi after an untidy tangle, and with his side already 1-0 behind from Domenico Morfeo's second-minute strike, the tears he shed as he left the pitch were proof the error of his ways had hit home long before he reached furious manager Bobby Robson.
He can now expect his second three-match ban of the competition and a roasting from Robson.
But that does not begin to describe his woes after the part he played in helping his side firstly to qualify for the competition and then, at the death, make the last 16.
"I've worked so hard to get into this competition and it's just these stupid incidents," he said. "I've already missed three games and I'm going to miss more now. To play against teams like Barcelona, it's a dream to be on this stage and I'm blowing it.
"It's my own fault. I've got no excuse. I knew I was going to get a little bit of treatment because I've played against [Fabio] Cannavaro a couple of times before," he said.
"It's the first time I've played against Materazzi, but that's how they play. It's my own fault. Whatever he's done, I've reacted.
"I thought the Kiev thing [where he was banned following a headbutt] was behind me and I'd wiped the first one away. It's a harsh lesson I've learnt and it will take me a while to deal with.
"I've let everyone down. I've let the manager down, I've let my team-mates down, I've let the fans who have come here to see a good game of football down. It's probably my lowest point I've ever had in football, and it's going to take a lot to get over this one," Bellamy said.