WORCESTER City suffered a freefall from Cloud Nine by following up last weekend’s dazzling display with a flat 2-0 defeat at home to Romulus.

REACTION & AS IT HAPPENED | City 0 Romulus 2 

Debutant Nyeko Sinclair, the only change to the City side that won 5-2 at Quorn seven days previously, nudged past his own keeper Sam Gilder under pressure from Luke Keen 27 minutes in.

It might have got worse for Sinclair had the lively Ethan Delaney been awarded a penalty for a tangle in the box moments later.

Callum McFarlane’s far-post header that was pushed wide from Luke English’s long throw was as good as it got all day for City – and it summed up their fortunes that a corner did not get awarded.

Changes in personnel made little difference with Romulus doing the simple things effectively and skipper Cameron Lee simply could not miss the second, sending a looping header over Gilder and back across goal having been left free on the corner of the six-yard box to meet a deep free-kick in the 64th minute.

Delaney had another penalty appeal waved away despite a high foot from Sam Hall late on but the result was rarely in doubt.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

The obvious answer is everything but to generalise it that simply would be unfair.

At Quorn, City made a swift start and everyone fed off each other. This time the start was scruffy and try as they might – and in fairness they did – the hosts could not recover.

It is all well and good performing when those around you are but this match exposed the lack of a presence to grab games by the scruff of the neck. City are crying out for a snarling, nasty character in one of the central positions.

HOW DIFFERENT WAS THE OPPOSITION?

Very.

The league table rarely lies but Romulus are an exception.

This made it one defeat in 11 league games for Mark Swann’s men and it is easy to see why they are grinding out results.

They pressed well, snapped into challenges and took the chances that came their way. The creative elements were perhaps missing but with such generous defending that did not matter.

WAS THE DEFENDING REALLY THAT BAD?

Both goals were gifts.

There may have been an element of fortune about the first but there was no pressure on the ball for the cross, something that blighted City for most of the afternoon from wide and central areas.

The second was dreadful. Not only was the visiting captain and centre-half, their biggest threat from set pieces, all alone but no one even got within touching distance.

HOW DID THE CROWD REACT?

With murmurings of discontent.

Moans and groans are to be expected at City, fans are watching their team three levels below the one they are used to and there has not been a lot of inspiration on offer in recent home games.

However, whether that is part of the problem also needs to be considered.

Finances dictate City have a young side, one that plays with such freedom on the road one week before looking like they have the weight of the world on their shoulders the next.

DID ANYONE COME OUT WITH CREDIT?

Yes, it was not a total write off.

Chris Withington was the lone ranger in terms of quality, he picked the passes you would normally expect from him and fronted up off the ball with vigour.

The rest had off days to varying degrees but a special mention for Luke English and Jordan Harrison – not much went for them but they refused to hide.

STAR MAN - CHRIS WITHINGTON

No question about this one. His effort and ability was on display, a mix none of the others quite managed on the day.

HOW THEY RATED

City: Gilder 5.5, English 5, McFarlane 4.5, Hall 4.5, Sinclair 4, Withington 7, Lockett 4.5, Attoumani 4.5 (Weir, 60, 5), Harrison 5 (Lemon, 78, 5), Lawrence 4.5 (Evans, 54, 4.5), Willis 4.5.

Unused subs: Andoh, Moran.

Romulus: Wagstaff 7, McKerdy 7, Haynes 7, Rudd 7, Lee 7, Llewellyn 7.5*, Winwood 6, Loveridge 7, Keen 6.5 (Dunkley, 78, 5.5), E Delaney 7.5, Degville-Cross 7.

Unused subs: Harris, Adams, Herbert, Dunkley.

Attendance: 308.

Referee: Alan Robinson, 6.

Match rating: 4.