Silkmen boss Keith Alexander was in no mood to pull any punches after watching his side slump to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Gigg Lane on Saturday.

"It was one of those games were the players need to go away and have a long hard think about it as I am sure that it must have been how they have been playing all season," explained a less than happy manager.

"It was very disappointing and I expect better than that. I've told them that in no uncertain terms. It's probably only the first time I have had to do that but I expect more than that. We've come here today and lost 1-0 and I don't think we have had a shot on goal. We saw a lot of the ball but we have gone down with a whimper today."

"Early on I thought we were in control of the game and in those instances you just need to step it up a bit to get something out of the game. I don't think we did that today. I don't think our keeper has had a save today and their keeper certainly didn't."

"At the end we had six forwards on the pitch and we were still not able to get the shots in. So there is still a lot of hard work to do but I knew that when I came here. Whether they were thinking they had done the job already I don't know but we are still not mathematically safe and we have to do better."

"Were they complacent? Well you would have to ask the players. I am certainly not as we still need to get those points on the board. Some results have gone our way today but we have got another chance next Saturday against Chesterfield to get over the line."

"The players are in for a hard week, we'll make sure of that. Ryan Cresswell took a kick to the ankle but he should be ok. We certainly will be better on Saturday and we won't be going down with a whimper you have my word for that."

"The fans who made the trip deserved better. They were magnificent again and been behind me from the start. Football can have a habit of kicking you in the teeth but we all have to be right for Saturday."