Robbie Neilson says Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson has "taken a gamble" by calling out his players just two games into his tenure.
Having begun with a draw at Falkirk, Robinson revealed he delivered "home truths" in the dressing room after the 4-1 weekend defeat by Rangers at Ibrox.
The relegation-threatened Dons, who occupy ninth place, are just three points above St Mirren and Kilmarnock before a trip to Paisley to face the Buddies following the international break.
Former Hearts and Dundee United boss Neilson says such heavy criticism from a new manager can backfire, citing the example of Russell Martin, who lambasted his Rangers players just three games after taking charge and was sacked two months later.
"It's very, very difficult because Stephen's teams have always been built on that aggression and the battle right to the end," Neilson told the BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast.
"Straight after the game he's probably super frustrated with what he's seen, he's maybe taken that into the interview after it but he felt it needed to be called out.
"He's made a decision. It's a gamble in my opinion because, do the players come with you or do they throw the toys out the pram?
"The only way we'll find out is when they go down to St Mirren and see if they can fight, but they haven't proved this season they can do that.
"It was a big call to come out and hammer them. We saw it with Russell Martin at the start of this season. He made the gamble to go after the players and it didn't work. He eventually moved on but you have to do something."
