Northwich Victoria 1v Charlton Athletic 0

Red faces all around this afternoon as Charlton were outplayed by non-league opposition and dumped out of the F A Cup. The red faces of the manager and players will be down to embarrassment and those of fans to anger.

As I said the other day, we needed a performance showing determination and ambition if we were to avoid a humiliating defeat. We saw some determination from the goalkeeper and the centre-halves but precious little from anyone else and there was absolutely no ambition whatsoever.

Darren Randolph did not deserve to be on the losing side this afternoon after two superb first half saves, the second of which had to be seen to be believed as he somehow clawed a ball out of the goal and around for a corner from a point-blank header. Sam Sodje was also superb and Dailly looked determined to play his part even if his colleagues in front of him weren't playing theirs.

Our five-man midfield was out-hustled by the non-leaguers. Racon and Semedo wanted more time than they were given. Lloyd Sam struggled to make any headway on the right and Bailey was as involved in the middle as he was on the left flank. Jonjo Shelvey had another indifferent game. Between them they failed to supply anything for McLeod who managed only one run during the whole game and the keeper beat him to that. He should actually have been sent-off at the re-start when he decided for some reason to elbow his marker in the face off the ball.

At half-time we should have been two down and had been given the warning that we would need to score if we were to have any chance of avoiding defeat. It went unheeded, and although we got more physical and restricted the Vics goal-scoring chances, we simply didn't look like we were serious about attacking. Northwich played for set-pieces and used their long throw and very tall centre-half to good effect. They were creating problems and we looked ragged throughout.

Parkinson did at least recognise the need to change it and introduced Burton and McKenzie for Shelvey for McLeod with twenty minutes left but the initial surge of effort soon subsided and Northwich got back to work. The goal, when it came, was a simple long ball over the top. Teenager Riley broke the offside and ran on to stab the ball under the unfortunate Randolph. Game over. We tried to inject some urgency but it just resulted in more errors and general fumbling.

The damage to already shaky confidence and morale will be significant and we have a horrendous game in prospect at Southampton on Wednesday where I can see us losing for the third time in succession. The vicious circle could be completed at the Valley on Saturday where we look likely to be overtaken Colchester and MK Dons if we lose. I will say it again, but we have nothing up-front, the early-season midfield confidence has gone and we look very nervous.

I am left feeling sorry for the 204 loyal supporters who made the journey today. They were let-down by the team and should get their ticket money refunded by the players. Perhaps it's time that we stopped talking about promotion and instead concentrated on trying to play more entertaining and attacking football and establishing ourselves properly at this level?

I heard the rumour again last night, that Kevin Phillips is on his way. I'd love to see him but we need a new strike-force now, not just one player.