ANDY Preece was correct to lambaste City's sorry pitch as 'shocking' in the aftermath of Saturday's snorefest against Vauxhall Motors.

It looks tired with large sections devoid of grass. So bad that Barcelona should hire St George's Lane in preparation for tomorrow night's Champions League tie at Chelsea.

A venue for fast, free-flowing football it certainly isn't.

Unacceptable was the verdict from Preece, referring the pitch as a 'tip' and 'embarrassment'.

City's player-manager is demanding action, and few will argue that it needs improving, but what exactly can be done?

Especially when City's reserve and youth team games play home fixtures on the Lane, and training takes place twice a week.

Chairman Dave Boddy insists there is no quick fix for a surface that, season after season, always hits problems.

Surface

"Obviously, we are aware that the surface is as poor as it's ever been," admits Boddy.

"As a club, we are always trying to take steps to do something about it. It has been particularly difficult this winter, following our FA Cup game with Huddersfield, which has made the pitch deteriorate a lot earlier than previous years.

"In the last three or four years, we've always had problems with pitch drainage because the surface is sand-based with little root growth.

"In the last couple of months of the season, the pitch would deteriorate, but it seems to have deteriorated a lot earlier this year.

"We are disappointed. We spend a lot of money each pre-season to have it right. We spent quite a lot of money this winter with the money earned through the FA Cup run.

"We need deeper root growth, but there's no miracle cure or short-term remedy for it."

One option is to re-lay the surface, but the club are not prepared to invest the necessary cash in the short-term, especially with plans to vacate the Lane for a new stadium on the horizon.

For the meantime, Preece has to grin and bear it, although the 38-year-old veteran striker is finding it difficult.

Frustrated having failed to break down Vauxhall, Preece stormed: "It's just not good enough. Something has got to be done.

"Whatever needs to be done, I think plans must go into it now and start doing it now. It's just not acceptable.

"It's not my department. I get frustrated about it and it just seems to be accepted. So we may as well plough it up a bit more and get that last bit of grass off it.

"You need to be able to pass the ball and be confident when the ball comes to your feet. We are not asking for Wembley.

"We are just talking about having a bit of grass on it."

For all his outspoken comments, Preece's second-half tactics to counter the difficult pitch offered no favours as City chased victory.

Smashing long balls forward, hoping for a kind break, was unlikely to pay dividends against Vauxhall's dominant defenders, of which there were many.

Instead of hitting the direct route, with four strikers waiting to pounce on the loose ball, Preece may have been wiser bringing Sam Wedgbury off the bench.

It would have required ultimate patience, but with Wedgbury and George Clegg, Worcester boast two midfielders capable of delivering a killer pass, even on the trickiest of surfaces.