JOHN Barton read the riot act to his misfiring Worcester City team following Saturday's 3-2 defeat to relegation-battling Ilkeston Town.

The St George's Lane manager held the players back for more than an hour after the game, questioning their commitment and application.

There was a further blow to Barton when full-back Allan Davies limped out of the game in the 50th minute with a groin injury that will rule him out for the remaining four games of the season.

Ilkeston heaped more misery on City by scoring two goals in the time it took to replace Davies with substitute Mark Owen.

Worcester have now gone seven games with just one win and Barton admitted it was not good enough.

"I delivered a few home truths after the match," he said. "For a team that has been congratulated to the hilt on their attitude and application they showed precious little of it today."

Barton was unhappy with the defending and said players had to be accountable for their actions.

""There's four games to go and some of the players need to show what they can do because they're playing for their shirts for next season."