GARY Bowyer accused City of conceding some “unacceptable” goals after they crashed out of the Carabao Cup against Preston at Valley Parade.

The Championship side crushed the Bantams 4-0 in the first-round tie – with Bowyer unhappy at the home defending.

The Bantams boss gave his players a post-match rollicking and admitted: “The overall standard of the four goals was really poor.

“We have to take it on the chin. The manner of the goals is not acceptable and they’ve been told that.”

Bowyer made eight changes – Preston swapped around all 11 - and was disappointed that so few took the chance to catch his eye.

“Preston made so many changes but the ones that came in really put a marker down for the manager for his team selection on Saturday,” he added.

“I challenged ours to do the same and unfortunately some of them haven’t done that.

“But there are other things we can look at and take from the game, such as Paudie (O’Connor) playing his first 90.”

City briefly picked up at the start of the second half when Connor Wood hit the bar. But Preston assumed control after a loose pass from Anthony O’Connor led to the third goal.

Bowyer said: “I wanted a reaction and for the first eight minutes of that half it was certainly going in the right direction. Then we gifted them the easiest goal of the night.

“Preston are a very good team and very good squad and showed that.

“Sometimes when you get a draw as a League Two team against one from the Championship, you’re hoping their attitude or application might not be right.

“But you cannot level that at them at all. I thought they were very professional and disciplined in how they went about the game.

“Preston were excellent. My big concern was obviously the manner of the goals and how we surrendered then really without a fight.”