Notts County hero Mark Stallard offered a damning assessment of their hammering at Torquay United and says it must be used as motivation in their promotion race.
The Magpies were thrashed 5-1 at Plainmoor as they crashed to their worst defeat since relegation to the National League in 2019 in what was a shambolic performance. Head coach Ian Burchnall said his side had let down the 600 travelling supporters who ventured to the Devon coast amid a barrage of criticism on social media.
And former Magpies striker Stallard says none of the players deserved praise for their performance as they prepare to face King's Lynn at Meadow Lane on Good Friday.
Read more: Warnock recalls Magpies glory after retiring
Read more: Burchnall's brutal message after Torquay horror show
"I hope it's a one-off blip as will the players and the manager," Stallard told the Magpie Circle podcast. "It was a horrible performance and I think that's the worst performance I can remember since we were relegated.
"I remember the play-off final which was a poor performance but given the opposition, given everything, Saturday was awful. You can glibly dismiss anything, can't we. We can call it a bad day at the office, which it was, but nobody came out of it with any credit.
"Nobody did themselves any favours. The manner of it was what I didn't like. We got outfought, we got outrun, outworked, out hustled, out everything all over the pitch. It was terrible in that respect for me."
Burchnall admitted that Notts had been unable to match Torquay's intensity which led to accusations that they are sometimes guilty of being too nice away from home. It is not the first time that has been levelled at Notts this season even though they are respected as one of the most attractive sides to watch in the division.
Notts have only lost twice at Meadow Lane this season, but their away form has undeniably prevented them from launching a sustained assault for the league title. Stallard said there have been warning signs during the course of the campaign but hopes their Gulls thrashing can inspire them for the remaining games.
"There have been 20 minutes here, 45 minutes there at times this season when I thought we were too nice," he said. It is a susceptibility that can happen in modern teams that are possession-based, but when you lose the ball, you have to be nasty without it.
"Good teams are nice in possession but are not nice without it. Notts were nice in possession, but Torquay bullied them, roughed them up a bit and won all the individual battles. It was just nowhere near the level. I hope it impacts things in a positive way.
"This is what happens when we all think it's going to be easy. You need to use that as your motivation for the next seven games. It shows if you're not right mentally, don't have the drive, determination and quality then anybody can beat you. It doesn't matter what name is above the door. We were way off it."
