Appleton so angry at rubbish display...

AN embarrassed Michael Appleton tore into his Lincoln City players after their “rubbish” performance cost them defeat at Gillingham.

The Imps failed to register a shot on goal at Priestfield, where Mikael Mandron’s first-half strike was enough to earn the Gills all three points.

Appleton has presided over just one win in seven league games and said he gave his players the full hairdryer treatment.

“That’s the worst performance from any team I’ve ever managed by a mile. I was embarrassed. I apologise to everybody who came down to the game,” he said.

“I thought it was rubbish. It was rubbish in every department: defending, attacking, our quality. There was a lack of aggression and we got schooled.

“There’s lots we can do about it, but at this moment in time I’m very, very angry about it. We let them know about it after the game – there was no reaction from the players as they know I’m right. I hope I never see a display like it again.”

French striker Mandron volleyed home from six yards with the game’s first chance after the

Imps’ defence failed to clear Mark Byrne’s cross.

Midfielder Olly Lee almost doubled the hosts’ advantage on the half-hour mark, but fired high and wide from 18 yards.

Mandron wasted a great opportunity to score his second of the game after 65 minutes when he headed over rising to meet Byrne’s cross.

He came even closer to sealing the win for Steve Evans’ side seven minutes later, but his glancing header from Lee’s delivery rebounded off the bar.

Despite the dismal showing from Appleton’s side, Tyler Walker’s stoppage-time header forced Gills keeper Jack Bonham into a crucial late save. Despite their profligacy in front of goal, Gillingham were rarely threatened and boss Evans was left beaming at full-time.

“If you had to pick a word to describe our performance, it would be relentless,” he said. “We didn’t give Lincoln players the chance to get their talent out of the bag. We did enough to make their performance not so good.

“We were dogged in the first half, but very good in the second.”