Gary McSheffrey urged his players to use the Carabao Cup defeat to Lincoln City as a wake-up call.
McSheffrey was disappointed with the performance in the 3-0 loss and believes it was indicative that levels need to be lifted throughout the team.
McSheffrey on the manner of the defeat:
“I thought we lacked intensity, personality, intensity in the press. We showed them way too much respect and just waited for them to score really.
“We huffed and puffed and played some all right stuff for the rest of the first half. Their second was a great goal from their point of view. He’s ran the length of the pitch and scored.
“We gave the ball away too cheaply though.
“I just thought we lacked personality in our performance and were head and shoulders above us in all departments.
“As much good football as Lincoln played, they were avoidable goals for us, either through lacklustre play in giving the ball away or defending the six yard box.
“It should be a wake-up call for a few.”
On decisions on the night:
“It was done after an hour and then for us it was about having one eye on Saturday.
“We wanted to get some players off to save their legs for Saturday and also to get some youngsters on the pitch.”
On individual performances:
“A positive for the night was Jack Goodman’s debut.
“He shoots on sight. He got a shot on target for us and spun in behind for us.
“I thought Adam Clayton tried to make things happen all game. He was doing things he doesn’t normally do. I think he recognised that we needed to be more tenacious and he was trying to win balls back in areas he might not normally.
“He was trying to drag the team along and it would have been nice if a few had gone along with him.”
On using the defeat as a wake-up call:
“We’ve got four points on the board but we’ve still not played how we want to play football.
“Let tonight be a lesson. They outclassed us in every department.
“Let it be a wake-up call to four or five individuals, because you can’t go through the motions.
“It’s not going to be a tough one to get over.
“You obviously never want to lose winning momentum but you don’t want to keep winning ugly and grinding.
“It’s a wake-up call. We’ll put more into it on moving the ball on the training pitch. The lads need to turn up on Thursday ready to roll their sleeves up and give us a reaction.”
