MICHAEL Collins slammed City’s display as “unacceptable” after a limp 2-0 defeat at Southend.

Collins admitted the home side “wanted it more” as second-half headers from Tom Hopper and Simon Cox condemned the Bantams to a third defeat in a week.

“I’m not going to defend the performance,” fumed Collins. “They wanted it more than us.

“There was more desire from them, there was more commitment to win second balls and more desire to do the ugly side of the game. That hurts me because it’s a difficult one to take.

“You can talk about formations and systems but you’re always going to struggle if you don’t do the basics right and do the levels of commitment required to put pressure on the man on the ball.

“We’re a group of lads who will take defeats together, win together and take it on the chin together.

“I’m not one of those who will come out and slate the players publicly. But they were told in no uncertain terms that it was unacceptable.”