WINSFORD United manager Dave Twite has blasted his players after their 4-3 league cup defeat at the hands of Blackpool Mechanics.

Twite has questioned his players' commitment and ambition after a display he described as hugely disappointing.

Speaking to the Guardian, Twite said: "To be honest I think some of the lads think they just have to turn up and win - they're wrong, that doesn't happen.

"For the past couple of weeks, even when we've been beaten, I've praised the lads for their effort and commitment, but on Saturday that just wasn't there.

"Their attitude was completely wrong and the work rate was terrible."

He added: "I spoke to the players after the match and left them in no doubt that it was unacceptable.

"We've got training on Wednesday and I'll be talking to each player individually about what happened on Saturday, what they've done right or wrong in the past and how we can improve in the future.

"I'm sure they'll put it right. They know what they can do and we're lucky really that this happened in a cup match and not in the league so it didn't cost us any points."

But not all of Twite's players have come in for criticism.

He said: "I have to exclude Nigel Booth from any blame as he did me a favour on Saturday and tried to play with a broken nose. At half time though it was clear he wasn't going to be able to continue so I had to bring him off.

"Nor can I blame Matt Conkie as there was nothing he could do about any of the goals and it was the people in front of him who let him down.

"I was also pleased with the young lad Osborne who came on for 20 minutes at the end.

"He came in and put in some good tackles for a 16-year-old and popped up with a well taken goal."

However, Winsford will need to have all 11 players on form on Saturday when they play host to table toppers Padiham.

If not, Twite's men could be in for a rude awakening.

He said: "It doesn't get any tougher than Padiham, but it's probably a good thing to face them now.

"The lads know they've got to get back to playing well and defending tightly because if they don't they'll have several goals put past them."

The Blues will be without Nick Boothby and Andy Watson who have gone to Trafford and Abbey Hey respectively, but Twite is hopeful that Booth will have recovered from his broken nose in time to replace long term injury victim Neil Marsh.