IAN Evatt admitted Wanderers’ performance in their home defeat to Exeter City was “unacceptable” – but insists his team will improve in time.

A superb first-half free-kick from Kamari Doyle and a close-range effort from Millenic Alli after the half time break was enough to help the Grecians avenge a seven-goal drubbing at the Toughsheet last November.

Wanderers did hit the woodwork in the second half through Aaron Collins but Evatt admitted they came nowhere near the same levels as they had shown in their Carabao Cup win against Shrewsbury in midweek.

“It was below our level, below our standards,” he said. “We lack rhythm at the moment, we look tired, fatigued.

“I don’t think 2-0 was a fair reflection of the game. They have scored two set pieces, one brilliant free kick and a corner, and the second one in particular hurts because we didn’t give ourselves a chance to build any momentum second half.

“It is a tough period but as I said earlier in the week it isn’t unexpected. I did feel like we were going to suffer a little bit because we were not 100 per cent fit, we have not got players ready and up to speed.

“Things are challenging but we need to stick together and work hard post international break to reset and go again.”

Wanderers sit 18th in the table, with one win from their first four league games.

They will face Barrow without a handful of international players in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy on Tuesday night and then have a free weekend to try and turn their fortunes around before a home clash with Huddersfield Town on September 14.

Asked about the poor start, Evatt said: “It is not what we wanted, certainly. In a football season you are always going to have difficult and tough periods and we’re in one right now.

“We don’t seem to get any rhythm. We take a step forward on Tuesday at Shrewsbury and then a step back. We have to understand why, to resolve, and to find some solutions.

“The players, myself, the one thing you have to do when you are trying to find a way out of these things is to look inside to find a way out. That is what we have to do now.

“We had 19 shots and three on target, that is simply not good enough. We had chances at good moments to score and get ourselves back into the game but we didn’t take them and with the players we have got we need to be better.”

Evatt spent much of the second half in the dugout, a ploy he revealed was more about keeping himself out of trouble than anything else.

“I was stood there at the start of second half but sometimes it is important that I don’t let my own frustrations boil over,” he said. “Sometimes that can have a negative impact on the team and with the fourth official. The team have to own that second half, so I decided to calm myself down. It wasn’t going to help anyone with frustrations boiling over.

“We know that is unacceptable, we know that is not our standard, we have to work hard to do better.”

Wanderers fans voiced their frustration at the final whistle, a reaction Evatt found difficult to argue against.

He added: “I understand the frustration, this is a football club with huge expectations. What we have done since we have been here is win consistently, so everyone expects us to win and when we don’t people ask questions. We have to be man enough to front those and answer them, we have done in the past and we will work really hard to respond again.”