DARREN Patterson described his players' first-half performance at Northwich as "unacceptable" as Oxford United crashed 1-0 to the bottom club in the table.

On a nightmare afternoon, they had Alex Jeannin sent off as well as seeing Matt Green and Eddie Anaclet go off with serious shoulder injuries.

But after watching his side lose for the first time in five games since he took over from Jim Smith, Patterson was more upset with the players' lacklustre showing - which was in such contrast to their previous matches.

On-loan Cardiff striker Green fractured his collarbone and will probably be out for five or six weeks, which probably signals the end of his time at Oxford.

Anaclet was in agony after dislocating his shoulder. It was put back in a few minutes later, but he too faces several weeks on the sidelines.

Patterson said afterwards: "It's been a bad day.

"I was very disappointed, especially with the first 45 minutes. Obviously losing Matt Green in the first two minutes didn't help our cause, but we just never got going.

"In the first half the tempo - everything that we've been building - we didn't do. In the second half it was a bit better.

"The players know what they've got to do, but too many players reverted to type in that 45 minutes.

"I can't understand how they approached it in that manner.

"A lot looked lacklustre and not up for it, which is just unaccept- able."

And Patterson revealed that it really was a day to forget.

"Matt knew he had broken it straight away, and it was the same with Eddie," he said.

"It's been one of those days. The coach broke down on Friday night too . . . there's all sorts of lame excuses we could use, but there were really none for that performance.

"That first 45 minutes was what really hurt us and what upset myself and the coaching staff."

Jeannin's red card, for a second bookable offence, means he will be suspended for one game and he misses next Saturday's FA Trophy tie against Tonbridge Angels, but is available for tomorrow night's FA Cup replay at Southend.

Rob Duffy is also available for the trip to Roots Hall after now serving his three-match ban.