YORK City manager Gary Mills blasted an “unacceptable”

performance as his team lost their second successive Blue Square Bet Premier fixture.

Following on from the disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Alfreton, the Minstermen went down 2-1 at Mills’ former club Tamworth with captain Chris Smith giving away two second-half penalties before leading marksman Jason Walker grabbed a late consolation.

It was a result that saw City drop to 14th in the league table, although a victory over Bath tomorrow would see the club climb back into the top eight.

Giving his honest assessment of Saturday’s display, Mills said: “For half an hour, we were okay but, after that, we were very poor. I could use other words but I can’t put it more simply than that really.

“We didn’t hurt them, we were second best, seemed to lose our shape and deservedly lost in the end.

“We didn’t pass the ball and didn’t really look to pass it.

“We did not play the way we can play and the way I want them to play and that’s disapppointing.”

Mills was particularly perturbed by his team’s failure to win possession and promised to put that right for tomorrow’s night’s game.

The City chief added: “We couldn’t keep the ball on the ground and did not win enough second balls.

“That was the problem against Alfreton and that was the problem again (on Saturday).

“I’ve got to address that problem now and sort it out because that’s my job and I’m thankful we’ve got a game tomorrow.

“We’ve been second best in a lot of areas for two games running.

“That’s unacceptable and not good enough and it’s why you lose games.

“We are capable of being so much better and I must now pick the right team against Bath after suffering another bad weekend.”

Smith was penalised for climbing on Kieron St Aimie for Tamworth’s first spot kick and then tripped substitute Danny Thomas for the second.

City manager Mills made no excuses for his skipper and was in no mood to cite the swirling wind in Staffordshire as a mitigating factor for his team’s disappointing showing either, saying: “I had no arguments with the penalties whatsoever. The conditions did not play a part either.

“I’ve no arguments with the result but I do have arguments with my players’ performances.”

Right-back Lanre Oyebanjo will play no part against Bath and could be sidelined for the rest of the month after pulling a hamstring muscle at the weekend, with Mills adding: “He did his hamstring badly, which is another down side but we’ll have to get on with things.”

Midfielder Andre Boucaud could come back into the frame, however, after being left on the bench against Tamworth following his long-haul flight return from international duty with Trinidad and Tobago.

The City boss said: “Andre did not get back until Friday and we were looking at Jon (Challinor) and Aidy (Moké) to try to get in the box a bit more than we did against Alfreton.

“We did on occasions but, all in all, we were poor.

“We possibly missed Andre but we still put out a team to win the game.”