NANTWICH Town boss Steve Davis has told his players to shape up or ship out after they crashed to lowly Gedling Town 3-0 in the FA Vase.
The Dabbers manager is unhappy with the manner his team surrendered their five-match unbeaten record and says a level of consistency must be found if they are to stay with the club.
Davis said: 'We started the day by arriving late and it went downhill from there. Gedling were not any better than we thought they would be, it was all of our own doing.
'I do think we were still the better footballing team on display by a distance, but we were outfought in many departments and did not seem up for the battle.
'It is the first time I have had to say that and it is not acceptable. In the past the players have always tried hard and worked hard, but that was missing on Saturday.
'I can't make drastic changes, but if I can strengthen the team I will do. There is only so long you can say you will keep faith with the same team before you have to start looking at one or two positions.
'If the players don't produce out on the field and hit an acceptable level of consistency then they are not good enough to take this club forward.
'I don't like blips like these and I don't think it is right to put it down to 'one of those days'. This was not acceptable and I can't understand it.'
Nantwich went behind to a first-half penalty against the Nottingham-based side, and then missed a hat-full of chances to level matters before the break.
A defensive mix-up led to the second, before a dubious penalty was awarded and then converted to finish the scoring for the day.
Nantwich now face a tricky double-header away at second-placed Fleetwood Town on Saturday, and at third-placed Newcastle Town on Tuesday, in the North West Counties League Division One.
Davis added: 'We missed a lot of good chances on Saturday, and I thought their second penalty was more than dubious.
'But it is not a time for excuses, we have a couple of very difficult games coming up and we need to improve quickly for them.'
