Coventry Sphinx manager Luke Hopkins was left embarrassed by his side’s 4-0 defeat at Quorn last night.
“It’s a tough place to go and for the first 45 minutes we were decent,“ Hopkins told the Sphinx website. “The team was functioning as a unit and although we were limited in the chances we had, we did have some half chances and sometimes you can poach an odd goal through them that sets you for the rest of the game. But at 0-0, we were still in the game at half time and that was the action required.
“Second half, I don’t think that the same lads turned up, I was embarrassed more than when I first took over and we were smashed 8-1 by Gornal last year.
“We conceded the first through a number of personal mistakes from our kick off, having numerous chances to clear the ball and never did.
The second, again came from numerous mistakes from individuals resulted in an own goal and should never have got to Ricky Hill to put freakishly into his own net.
“Once the second went in, the heads went down and the heart, passion and desire went. That is what I can’t accept at all. “Heart, passion and desire - they cost nothing, they can’t be coached and no matter how good you are, what qualities you have. If you don’t want to win or fight for a cause you won’t do anything.
"For 25 minutes of the second half, it was the worst display of the season by a country mile. The third and fourth followed from being caught square at the back and individual mistakes. I accept players will make mistakes and that’s why they play at this level, the higher you go the less mistakes are made and more decisions made are the right ones, but i thought we had left mistakes like that behind last season and moved on.
“I want to say sorry to the fans that did travel and paid to watch it.
I can only hope we create more highs than lows because we don’t lose three games on the bounce, never have and never will not while I’m in charge.
“I have until 27th march to sign players if I need too I will, because I can’t accept last night’s 2nd half performance.
“Westfields tomorrow at home will be a hard game and I’ll be saying to the players, if you are not interested don’t waste mine and your time.”