WORCESTER City manager John Snape apologised to the fans after the club suffered their worst competitive home beating in 72 years.

Saturday's 6-1 loss to local rivals Westfields is believed to be their heaviest since going down by the same scoreline to Gillingham in the Southern League in 1946.

City had not suffered a bigger home defeat since 1906 when Watford won 6-0 in the FA Cup.

And after the Midland League Premier Division thrashing Snape said: "I apologise on behalf of the management and the players.

"We’ve let you (the fans) down. I wouldn’t say in some ways it was a lack of effort but one or two did hide.

"They (the fans) were kind to myself, the staff and the players. Now we need to be a lot harder on each other.

"We’ve got a young side and I don’t want to kill the spirit but that was unacceptable."

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TALKING POINTS AND RATINGS FROM THE MATCH

Snape admitted he had also been at fault on a day of mistakes.

City were not helped as Jamie Smith (knee) and Luke English (foot) were out injured while fellow defender Jordan Stoddart played after suffering a knock in Tuesday's 2-1 win at Long Eaton United.

Snape continued: "I hold my hand up. I probably picked the wrong side.

"In the first 15 minutes we crumbled. The first goal was a mistake to start with and then really the kid should be taken out.

"He gets a free run at goal and we’re 1-0 down in three minutes. Our heads dropped straight away.

"The second goal, is it a penalty or not? I don’t know. The referee’s given it, it doesn’t matter, 2-0 down. After 3-0 no complaints.

"I could moan about our players but Westfields were well organised and picked us off at will.

"In both boxes they were miles better than us and that was the difference in the game.

"We’ve probably made more passes than them but haven’t hurt them at all. They’ve been cleverer with the ball.

"Our subs have come on and done well. Kyonn Evans has got a good goal and one he needed because he has been a bit low on confidence.

"That’s probably one of the only plusses I can take out of the game."

The red card for keeper Dan Jezeph just before half-time left City with even more problems when 5-0 down at the break.

Snape said: "He is a young lad, it’s a massive learning curve for him. He has been fantastic.

"His frustration boiled over, we think it’s a handball and so does he. But the referee hasn’t given it.

"But 100 per cent it’s a sending off, you can’t do that. Dan will be internally fined. It will be a tough one for him.

"We all make mistakes. He will be the major talking point for his actions but as a team getting beaten at home and being 5-0 down at half-time is totally unacceptable.

"I will see in the next 10 days, as we haven’t got a game next weekend, who really wants it and it will need a shake around anyway.

"I said at half-time one thing you don’t do in the second half is go and concede. I’m still a bit shellshocked.

"I didn’t expect any team of mine or Worcester’s to be 5-0 down at half-time at this level.

"That’s not disrespecting the league, I think we have got more about us than that.

"The side crumbled. It’s when you’re looking for a bit of leadership and game management which we’re desperately lacking at the minute.

"But I don’t think we can go as low as that again, I certainly hope not.

"The learning curve for the young lads would be a positive because they don’t want to feel that again. I will get behind my players.

"Away from home we’ve been quite comfortable. But at home for some reason probably in the last month I don’t know what it is but it’s something we’ve got to remedy and hopefully sort out before Christmas."

City dropped to sixth in the table with second-placed Hereford side Fields four points behind leaders Ilkeston Town having played two games more.

Worcester are without a win in four home games after beating Ilkeston 3-0 on October 20.