Worthington tells York Cup flops they can leave

Worthington pulled no punches following the Minstermen’s 3-2 first-round replay loss to Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night and admits he has lost patience with ‘one or two’ in his side.

Despite City making a cup-tie of it thanks to two quick-fire Wes Fletcher goals after the break, the ex-Norwich City boss was in no mood for papering over the cracks after witnessing an opening 70 minutes which he labelled as ‘pathetic’ and ‘unacceptable’.

Rovers, with just one win in their previous 13 matches, were full value for a 3-0 lead, albeit after being helped along the way by some rank-bad home defending.

Worthington, who questioned the mental attitude of some of his side, said: “What I can do is get other players and that’s what me and the chairman are looking at, at the moment.

“It’s quite simple. I have told one or two the door is there, walk through it and go and find themselves another club.

“If I use the word pathetic for 70 minutes, that’s exactly what we were.

“I am not being clever, but I spotted it before the game and said that some were not mentally prepared for the game. That comes from within and I regret to say I was spot-on.

“I have been in the game a long time and in dressing rooms as a player and a manager you can see when some people are switched on and ready and when some are not. There were a few who were not ready.”

A bad night for York was compounded by injuries to first-choice goalkeeper Michael Ingham, who tweaked a hip muscle in the warm-up with Chris Kettings handed a surprise debut.

Central defender Chris Smith was also stretchered off at half-time in a further blow.

With his side having failed to keep a clean sheet for nine matches and with just three to their credit in 20 games this term, Worthington’s big priority is bringing in some defensive ballast to reinforce his side, who face tough back-to-back road trips at Southend and Morecambe.

He added: “We didn’t concede the goals, we gave them away – once again.

“For 20 minutes, we gave the supporters value for money – before that, we robbed good people of hard-earned money. That’s not acceptable.

“I can take a defeat if we perform and are unlucky without giving bad goals away.

“But that first 70 minutes; I have seen more commitment in a game in the park.”