Angry Gray blasts players

Manager Martin Gray was leaving no doubt exactly where he believes the blame lies after blasting the latest display at Curzon Ashton as an “embarrassment and disgrace”.

The deeply angered York boss has already ordered his players in for extra training on Sunday morning following one of the worst performances ever witnessed by a once again large travelling support.

Niall Cummins scored a first-half hat-trick for the lowly part-timers while also having a penalty saved by Adam Bartlett, who actually prevented the dreadful visitors from suffering an even bigger defeat than the final 4-1 scoreline.

Sam Walker also got into the act following interval, while veteran striker Jon Parkin increased the abject misery when being shown a straight red card for a bad challenge.

The only bright spot other than the heroics of the outstanding Bartlett was a debut goal from substitute Alex Kempster with just over twenty minutes remaining.

“I’m not taking the blame for today, I’m going to blame these players,” Gray insisted to BBC Radio York. “Because that is an embarrassment and disgrace. To play for York City Football Club and put in a performance like that is not acceptable.

“And I won’t accept that from anybody. These players are in again tomorrow and are going to start working again because that represents me and is not what we’re about.

“And for the first time I’ll blame the players and apologise to every fan from York City that has come today,” he continued. “Because that performance today was absolutely appalling.

“Where’s the character and personality and pride in performance? You’ve got to come here and earn the right to win games – and that was disgusting.

“It’s about the mentality of the players. I can only do so much but I can’t say what goes on in their brains when they cross that white line.

“You’ve got 500-600 fans that have travelled today and paid good money and been to work all week. And they’ve let them down. They’ve let the football club and the chairman down and I won’t accept it no more.

“It’s unacceptable and has got to change,” Gray warned. “They’re in tomorrow as a punishment. It’s the worst I’ve felt since coming to the football club and I won’t accept it.

“It’s not me, I am a winner and want them to have the same attitude and desire as me. And they’ve got to get that. If they can’t then we will change it.”

Audio Link: BBC Radio York