McInnes Not Happy With Performance.

City manager Derek McInnes had to admit that his side put on an unacceptable performance after being knocked out of the Capital One Cup by league two Gillingham.


The Robins were second best in all departments with the rot starting to take hold properly when Danny Kedwell fired the visitors in front from the penalty spot just ahead of the half time whistle. Liam Fontaine handling the ball while on the ground gave it away.


Nine minutes after the re-start City were in more trouble when a right wing corner came in, Tom Flanagan headed the ball down and Ben Strevens fired home from six yards.


City grabbed a goal back through substitute Marvin Elliott headed effort six minutes into injury time, but it was no more than a consolation.


McInnes summed the game up by telling reporters: ‘It was an unacceptable performance for large parts of the game.


‘We were not outplayed, but we were out-battled and that is sometimes the worst thing you have to accept as a player.


‘Full credit to Gillingham. Pre-season is well and truly over for us now and it’s down to business after a harsh lesson.


‘We have lost the chance of much-needed cup revenue as well as the other things a cup run can produce. I made it clear how important I viewed the fixture and we fielded a strong team.


‘That makes the performance all the harder to accept. Every player has put his place in jeopardy for the weekend.


‘I don’t go in for knee-jerk reactions, but it goes without saying that we have to improve greatly on that display.’