GARY Bowyer kept City in the dressing room for 45 minutes after their 2-1 loss at Crawley.

Sub Aramide Oteh grabbed a late consolation goal but the eight-game unbeaten run ended with a whimper after a poor display in Sussex.

Bowyer was unhappy with all aspects of the team’s display against a Crawley side who had previously won only once in 13.

The City boss said: “It was very disappointing in the manner we conceded the goals. Both goals came from our throw.

“These are the defenders who’ve done ever so well for us of late, so we’re disappointed with that.

“We seemed to give teams a head start on the road and then we dominate possession. We had 60 per cent possession without hurting them.

“It’s all right passing it sideways and backwards but you’ve got to go forwards. I’m afraid we didn’t do enough of that.”

Eoin Doyle started for City after being recalled early from his Swindon loan. He had a great chance just before half-time but was thwarted by a superb block from defender Jamie Sendles-White.

Bowyer added: “The one time we did get forward in the first half, Doyler gets his chance but the defender has done outstandingly to keep it off the line.

“Then we’ve got into some great areas second half to cross the ball and we kept hitting the first man. The standard of our crossing needed to improve today.

“The areas we got into and the failure to create was particularly frustrating.”