‘Embarrassing’ says Dickov

AN ANGRY Paul Dickov laid into his players following the FA Cup exit to Accrington.

Athletic’s manager spoke of an “embarrassing” performance in the first-half as the team were thoroughly dominated at the Crown Ground.

At 3-0 down after only 52 minutes, Athletic looked down and out and so abject was the display that the visitors could have easily conceded more.

Goals from Warren Feeney — his first for the club — and a Dale Stephens penalty brought hope.

But despite a late Paul Black strike which rebounded off a post, this was the third consecutive first-round cup exit for Dickov this season — and easily the worst performance of the season.

The only real positive was the performance on debut from teenager Carl Winchester, who looked assured and dynamic going forward from right-back.

“The attitude first half was shocking and I am not going to put up with it,” said a furious Dickov, who questioned why referee David Webb added only five minutes of additional time at the end of the game despite lengthy hold-ups.

“We said to the players before the game about application and desire. In FA Cup ties, in most rounds it is about the team which wants to win (more).

“Accrington wanted to win it more than we did in the first half.

“I won’t have that from any of my players and I won’t have that from any of my teams.

“We had the chances to do it and I am not saying that towards the end of the game there was a lack of desire.

“But it is no use playing when you are 3-0 down. It is easy — anyone can go out and look good on the ball then. I am not having it.

“I was embarrassed at half-time. I told the boys they should be embarrassed that a 17-year-old (Carl Winchester) making his debut in the team showed them how it should be done.

“He wanted the ball, when he got it he drove forward and he got his tackles in.

“You would have thought he had a few hundred games in him.”

With the club’s perilous finances, a run in the FA Cup would have provided a welcome boost.

Knockout games up to this point had seen Athletic lose 2-1 at Championship side Scunthorpe in the Carling Cup and 1-0 at home to Shrewsbury in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Dickov was left to contemplate what might have been, had his players approached the game with as much verve as the deservedly victorious home side managed at the Crown Ground.

“I am absolutely gutted because I think we are capable of a cup run,” Dickov said.

“In the Scunthorpe game we were excellent, but against Shrewsbury and here at Accrington our attitude let us down.

“They have done it once, done it twice but they won’t do it again.

“It is thinking they are better than they are, simple.

“As soon as they start thinking they are a team, they are not. And they thought that here.

“They aren’t good enough to do that.”

Accrington manager John Coleman was relieved to have gained passage to the second round after surviving late Athletic pressure.

“We knew there was going to be an onslaught and they showed their class at the end when they put us under extreme pressure,” Coleman said.