LEE Sinnott got tough with his Altrincham players and warned them places were on the line after a defensive horror show sent them crashing out of the Cheshire Senior Cup at Moss Lane on Tuesday night.

Dismayed at the way basic errors undermined another enterprising attacking display, and cost Alty a 4-3 first round exit at the hands of Stockport County, Sinnott bluntly admitted any repeat would effectively end their promotion hopes.

“I have to be concerned about our defensive play, because we were very generous for their goals,” fumed the Alty boss. “In fact, it was like Christmas at times. I wasn’t pleased with what I saw, and if we defend like that at Worcester on Saturday, we will have a major problem and end up with no points.

‘That is the stark reality. I’m not going to say something is ok when it isn’t, and this was unacceptable. It was like a knife through butter, like the parting of the Red Sea. All those sort of sayings applied.

‘There’s no doubt we could have defended better from the front as well. One thing I noticed about Stockport was that, when we had the ball, they closed down our defenders very fast and in numbers. I expect my team to do the same.

‘We shouldn’t be defending like that, as a team or individually. That is not going to get me promoted out of this league, and there had better be a response on Saturday.

“It is a collective responsibility, but I am concerned about how my defenders are defending. It’s ok having three good games then one stinker, but that isn’t going to get us to where we want to be. Consistency is the key.

“The 11 who start at Worcester had better make sure I don’t get what I’ve been served tonight. That was my final word to them. But who’s to say what the starting line-up will be? There’s an old saying that you’re only as good as your last game. When you think of the last game, that gives me some food for thought.”