MARK Wright admitted he got his team selection wrong after Chester City missed the chance to haul themselves out of the League Two drop spots yesterday.

The Blues boss stuck with the same outfield players that had started in the win at Notts County seven days earlier.

But they repaid Wright’s faith with a totally flat first-half performance which ensured City’s four-match unbeaten run came to an end on an afternoon when relegation rivals Grimsby Town and Bournemouth both lost.

“We just didn’t turn up first half,” said Wright, whose second-from-bottom side are away to mid-table Accrington Stanley tomorrow (1pm).

“They didn’t press anywhere near as much as they have done in the last four games and they didn’t win the second balls.

“I looked very, very closely at making changes, but it would have been cruel on the boys who did very well last week until our keeper John Danby went off. It would have been unfair but my gut instinct is now telling me I didn’t do it right.

“We’ve missed a big, big chance to make things easier for the football club.”

John Rooney, brother of England and Manchester United star Wayne, broke the deadlock in the Cheshire derby in the ninth minute when he was given the time and space to rifle in a 25-yarder.

And Gareth Evans sealed Macclesfield’s first victory in seven matches by racing on to a Colin Daniels through pass and hammering in off the bar 20 minutes later.

Goalkeeper James Spencer, whose super reaction save had denied Evans moments earlier, could do little about either goal and he produced a solid debut following his emergency loan switch from Rochdale.

Laurence Wilson and Jay Harris, an early replacement for the struggling David Mannix, were the other standout performers for the below-par hosts, who improved after a well-deserved half-time dressing down.

Wright will give late fitness tests to midfielder Mannix and striker Kevin Ellison before tomorrow’s trip to in-form Accrington.

“It’s going to be a difficult place to go and get a result,” said Wright. “But we’ve got to go there and make it happen.”