Port Vale manager Rob Page gave an honest and forthright assessment of his side’s performance following their Emirates FA Cup defeat to Exeter City.
Goals from Jordan Tillson and Ollie Watkins ensured the Grecians passage through to the third round of the competition.
Speaking to the press following the loss at St James’ Park, the Vale boss admitted the display was well below par.
“Not acceptable,” he said. “There aren’t too many times I’ve stood here representing that group of players saying it was embarrassing, not acceptable.
“They’ve let themselves down and the club down but that’s how I feel right now, very angry.
“I told them at half time it wasn’t acceptable and to go out and do something about it but credit to them [Exeter].
“I thought they were excellent first half and thoroughly deserved it so taking nothing away from them. We were as bad as they were good.”
When asked what the performance lacked, Page responded: “Everything. First half they outplayed us, out battled us, out fought us. They had more enthusiasm.
“I said to them, forget formations, it’s enthusiasm to want to get on the ball and do something with it and we had none of that first half.
“It was a little bit better second half but, no, not acceptable.”
The Valiants face Scunthorpe United this weekend in Sky Bet League One and Page is expecting to see a reaction from his players.
“We can’t grumble, we’ve got a game on Saturday now that we’ve got to go and make amends and put it right,” he commented.
“We’ve got to go and give a performance and get a reaction out of them and go and do it on Saturday.
“They know as a group of players that’s not acceptable and we need to go and put it right.”