Culverhouse offers an apology as Kettering Town are thumped at Chester

Ian Culverhouse's reaction tells the story as Kettering Town were well beaten 4-0 at Chester. Pictures by Peter Short

Ian Culverhouse offered an apology to the travelling supporters after Kettering Town were thumped 4-0 at Chester.

The Poppies’ Vanarama National League North campaign is showing signs of tailing off as they were condemned to a third defeat in a row, which leaves eight points adrift of the play-off places.

They are 15 points clear of the relegation zone as a mid-table finish becomes the likely outcome to their campaign.

Jackson Smith is beaten for one of Chester's four goals

But the worrying trend in form, coupled with a depleted squad due to injuries and suspensions, culminated a poor display at Chester.

Asked if it was the worst performance since he arrived as Poppies manager, Culverhouse replied: “Definitely. And I want to apologise to the fans for that performance. It was very uncharacteristic of the group we have got and we need to respond really quickly.

“That was a poor one. The fans came up in good numbers again to witness that and it’s not acceptable.

“We are what we are. We are a young group anyway but if one player misses out, the next one has to stand up but I thought it was men against boys today.

Captain for the day Rhys Sharpe gets on the ball for Kettering

“The players we have got at the club are who we will work with. But if we carry on playing like that I won’t be here for much longer!

“From minute one to minute 93 I thought we were poor.

“No-one can come out of it with any credit whatsoever so we need a quick response and luckily we have a game on Tuesday night back at our place.

“We have got to get back to the way Kettering play, with that intensity and passion - everything we lacked today.”

The Poppies, who now sit in 13th place, host ninth-placed Hereford in their first home game for a month on Tuesday night.