RICHARD Dunne has admitted that he and his fellow City players deserved their public dressing down from chairman John Wardle and the fans.
The Blues skipper accepted the abject surrender at Wigan was simply not tolerable and confessed that as the man with the armband he felt extra responsibility for the lacklustre effort.
And the Republic of Ireland international was also ready to point the finger at himself and his team-mates rather than manager Stuart Pearce
"We were aware of the fans' anger and disappointment in the last 20 minutes at the JJB and they had every right to feel that way," insisted the central defender.
"We didn't perform. It was a terrible start and we never realistically looked like getting back into the game and I suppose that was the most disappointing thing of all for the supporters.
"There is an understanding of why they were so critical of us and we do not have any right to wonder why. They have a right to let us know of their displeasure.
Supporters
"Fans are the base of any good club and if they are not on your side then something is wrong. Over the years City supporters have been brilliant and there are enough people who remember how they sustained the club through the darkest days for the players to realise and understand that.
"They are so loyal and behind us that when they do turn on the players it is even more noticeable and hits us quite hard. Having said that it is what we should expect and what we deserve."
Dunne who scored the own goal that helped put Wigan 2-0 up inside three minutes of Saturday's encounter painted a sombre picture of the changing room in the wake of the drubbing.
It is not something he wants to experience again in a hurry.
"I was angry, everyone in the dressing room was angry with themselves because on the day no-one performed," he revealed.
"No-one was up to the standard that we have set ourselves over the last couple of seasons.
"As the captain I felt more at fault for things going wrong because I am supposed to be leading the team. We didn't have enough drive in us at Wigan.
"Everyone of us goes out and we do give 100 per cent and try our hardest but on Saturday our 100 per cent was not good enough. We seemed not to be at the races and whatever we did was wrong. It is on days like that it gets difficult and I suppose it was a sad day but we were trying."
Broadside
Dunne took on the chin the criticism of the team from Wardle who issued a stinging Monday broadside suggesting that the first team stars should take a long hard look at themselves before going back into work.
And the captain was in no mood to shift the blame on to Pearce or the coaches.
"The manager does his thing during the week and then picks eleven players to go out on the field. They have to take responsibility," insisted Dunne.
"All week we train and we think we are good players and we all want to be in the team so when he picks one that goes out and doesn't perform it is not his fault.
"If Monday to Friday we train really well and play good football but then don't show it on match day then again it is not the manager's fault.
"We have to look at ourselves and admit it wasn't good enough, we didn't defend well enough, we weren't strong enough in midfield and we never looked like scoring. It is our responsibility even though the manager will take some stick because he picks the team.
"If we don't do what we are supposed to do then none of us have any chance.
"Everyone knows that we are a better team than we showed at Wigan and if we go and beat Middlesbrough then it will be one defeat in five."
Who do you blame for City's disastrous performance against Wigan? Have your say.
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Daz, Sharston (25/10/2006 at 09:42)
Monkeyhanger, Wigan (25/10/2006 at 09:52)
Irish Mark, Heathrow (currently) (25/10/2006 at 10:02)
Dunne, as nic as he is, isn't strong enough to be captain. Give it to Barton, and you'll surely see some determination on hte ptch.
I
THE BLUE TOOL, URMSTON (25/10/2006 at 10:05)
Andy, Manchester (25/10/2006 at 10:06)
S Renfrew, On the Blue Beach (25/10/2006 at 10:06)
Weasel (not McKay), Stockport (25/10/2006 at 10:14)
The kids are alright, The oldies are donkies (25/10/2006 at 10:16)
They (the fans) were as disapointed as the rest of us''
is he having a laugh, I don't know any fan, unlike the players who was paid thousands of pounds for turning up at Wigan last Saturday, they all coughed up 35 quid plus to watch that tripe and I should think they were more disappointed than the players. He also says if we beat Boro then it will be one defeat in five, sounds quite reasonable doesn't it !! but we all know that just as we think we may have turned a corner, wham we'll get tonked by some rubbish teams again and all the usual ''hard work '' statements will be trotted out.
On the face of it , 14th in the prem, and one defeat in 4 doesn't seem that bad when when explaining the situation to other football clubs fans, but only we know how bad the team is, we watch them every week. Stick an unbeaten run of about 10 games together, with a few 2 and 3 nillers thrown in and I just 'might' start to believe that Dunny and his mates are a half decent team.
Si, Manchester (25/10/2006 at 10:22)
Blue Boy Sucky, Manchester (where else)??? (25/10/2006 at 10:29)
Chris, Northwich (25/10/2006 at 10:29)
the realist, the real world (25/10/2006 at 10:32)
Carl Luft, Bolton (25/10/2006 at 10:44)
thevicar, man city boy in southernjessie land (25/10/2006 at 10:48)
Get back to 4-4-2 and play The greek up front where he belongs.
Corradi, get back to italy you plonker.The team to beat boro , with barton as skipper;
weaver.richards.dunne,distin,thatcher
trab.barton.johnson/ireland.beesley.samaras and vassell.3-0.
gp, midlands (25/10/2006 at 10:53)
GS, Manchester (25/10/2006 at 10:53)
daz, denton (25/10/2006 at 10:54)
What are you talking about "SP constant barracking" of Jordan. He has RIGHTLY criticised him for diving into tackles and getting sent off. Jordans' conficence is shot to pieces because he is not good enough to play in the premiership. In the past I have said I cannot fault his effort but after watching the Wigan game and the lethargy and lack of effort in trying to clear the 3rd goal I now question his effort. He is too slow, too small, a lunatic in the tackle and offers no support to whomever plays left midfield.
Training Cone, Carrington (25/10/2006 at 11:09)
And whilst I'm at it here's a question, "Does anyone on here think that the high wages being paid or the management team of SP, Wigley & Co are motivating the players right now?" We need young, fit, quick and hungry players with a point to prove. We've got some already in Richards, Miller, Barton & Johnson even Vassell & Samaras (when played centrally) but not many more. When the window opens I will lose it if we sign another Corradi, Hamann or Dickov type player, it's time the club dictated to Pearce that the policy is to bring in players under 25/ 26.
Jethro, Tyke land (25/10/2006 at 11:09)
Shaun, My desk (25/10/2006 at 11:10)
JOHN PRITCHARD, MANCHESTER (25/10/2006 at 11:12)
dpkmanc, Levenshulme (25/10/2006 at 11:13)
Blue John, Far far away Land (still) (25/10/2006 at 11:21)
Mark, London (25/10/2006 at 11:23)
john blue, levenshulme (25/10/2006 at 11:25)