Thorn pulls no punches after City debacle

'By a country mile that was the worst performance I have witnessed under me. It's not what we are about and it was unacceptable.'

Andy Thorn pulled no punches in his verdict on Tuesday night's game after seeing Coventry Citu knocked out of the League Cup by League One side Bury, the third season running the Sky Blues have exited the competition at the first hurdle to lower league opposition.

Heading into half-time all square City capitulated after the break as Ryan Lowe's double sent the Shakers through.

Thorn, mindful of the fact that he has only a small squad at his disposal, looked ahead to Saturday's game at Birmingham with a plea to his players.

'We have a big game at the weekend and some players are going to have to take a good look at themselves before that because that performance is just not the way we play.'

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Those players however are not facing any real competition for their places at present as the manager continues to operate with both hands tied behind his back in the transfer market. He can only do so much and must hope his senior stars heed his words.

'I told the players there'd be three or four shocks and there was no reason why this couldn't be one of them,' home boss Richie Barker told the Manchester Evening News meanwhile.

'We're a League One team that no-one thinks anything about so I'm extremely proud of every one of my players.'

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