Trollope says the Oxford defeat was his poorest night in charge

Bristol Rovers manager Paul Trollope has issued a stark warning to his players following their 6-1 Carling Cup loss at League Two side Oxford.

He was particularly scathing of the defensive display which followed the 3-0 defeat by Peterborough on Saturday.

"If people haven't got that fire in their belly they'll quickly find themselves on the sideline or out of the club," he told BBC Radio Bristol.

"Because that lack of defensive desire is not acceptable."

Trollope added: "It was a poor night, the poorest since I've been in charge. After a promising start to the game we moved the ball quite well and looked dangerous but then we capitulated.

"There was a lack of desire to defend in general, a lack of desire to get to the ball generally, a lack of desire to mark players and a lack of desire to stop crossed getting into the box."

But the 38-year-old was fulsome in his praise for Oxford United who have only just returned to the Football League.

"Oxford were on a crest of a wave after their promotion and I thought their hunger and desire was fantastic," said Trollope.

"And they showed quality in the right areas to score their goals and thoroughly deserved their emphatic win."

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