Performance was unacceptable, says furious Corby boss Mills

Former Steelman Callum Ball gave the visitors a first-half lead before Barwell captain Brady Hickey headed home the second five minutes after the break to send Corby tumbling to a 13th league defeat of the season.

The latest loss has left Mills’ team rock-bottom of the table and a huge nine points adrift of safety.

The Corby boss handed starts to recent signings Jordan Smith and Izale McLeod but the hosts failed to spark in attack.

And Mills didn’t mix his words in his assessment of the game.

“It was unacceptable and the players were told that,” he said.

“Since I have been at the club they have given me energy and desire and they didn’t show any of that. I thought it was a very, very poor performance.

“We had the early chance but I am not going to sugarcoat anything because that was not good enough.

“Defensively we didn’t look sound, in the midfield we didn’t get near anyone and the bottom line is that it wasn’t good enough.”

Even though the season isn’t at the halfway point yet, Corby are facing a huge task to prevent a second relegation in the space of 12 months.

So what is to be done to turn things around?

“That’s the magic question and I wish I had a magic wand,” Mills replied.

“But it’s going to take hard work and us sticking together. Those are the things that are going to change it.

“The lads are low on confidence, they are making bad choices. We are asking them to find a white shirt once we have turned teams and they aren’t even doing that with any quality.

“We have to crack on and hopefully turn the corner.”