"I didn’t need to talk at half-time because the players had to walk off past their own fans and listen to exactly what people thought of them. We know how much the fans care about this club, and I wish the players had shown the same kind of passion. They have a right to their opinion, so I understand when they make their feelings clear about myself and the team. They work all week earning the money to come and watch us, and they deserve a hell of a lot better than we gave them. Some of the players endeared themselves to nobody because they were lacking in desire or even a willingness to run about."
"Paul Warne put the rest of them to shame when he came on as a sub. At least he looked interested and as though he cared about what was happening. To be three goals down after 15 minutes shows you how ludicrous our defending was. It was self-inflicted and Andy Ritchie won’t have an easier half of football for the rest of the season. After keeping two clean sheets in a week, we’ve now conceded two at Port Vale and four at Barnsley, where it could easily have been worse. It’s hard to understand, but all days off are cancelled because I’m going to get to the bottom of it."
"You could drop the entire back four after that performance, but we don’t have the personnel for massive changes so it’s going to be hard work and more hard work. Maybe this had been coming because we had a bit of luck when we were picking up points in the last couple of weeks. But when luck goes the other way, you’ve got to compensate by keeping your discipline and if you’re looking to be a top-six side, you can’t go around losing 4-0.”