David Unsworth slammed Everton’s ‘schoolboy’ defending after the young Blues lost 4-3 at Manchester City on Sunday.
Everton now face a title showdown with Brighton and Hove Albion at Goodison Park next week as they look to secure their second Premier League 2 title in three years.
Bassala Sambou gave Everton the lead at the Etihad Campus before goals from Eric Garcia, Adrian Bernabe and Ian Carlo Poveda-Ocampo handed the hosts a 3-1 lead.
Sambou and substitute Fraser Hornby both netted in quick succession to level during the second-half but Jeremie Frimpong fired a late winer as Everton suffered their first league defeat in six.
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Garcia equalised from a set-piece while Poveda-Ocampo and Frimpong both took advantage of some sloppy Blues defending and at the final whistle, Unsworth was less than impressed.
“Absolutely not,” he replied when asked if the performance matched the standards set for his side.
“Schoolboy stuff from us today. It was uncharacteristic. It’s hard to think of many positives after conceding four goals.
“I’m really disappointed to concede in the way we have especially after working so hard to get back into the game.
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“It was a great start but we just weren’t at it today. We weren’t ourselves from the first minute to the last.
“To concede the manner of goals, the way we did, it was schoolboy stuff.
“There were some poor performances defensively today and that’s not just the back four. The midfield didn’t do the jobs we’ve asked them to do and it’s cost us.”
Sambou’s second goal came from a beautifully worked attack and Unsworth admitted he was delighted with the strike.
Nathan Broadhead found Hornby in the penalty area who laid a first-time pass out wide to the overlapping Brendan Galloway.
The former MK Dons defender then delivered across goal with the lively Sambou on hand to roll home.
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“Some of our goals were magnificent,” the manager added.
“The second goal was the best goal of the game and probably the goal of the season from us. But that’s the quality we have going forward."
Brighton will now arrive at Goodison a week on Monday sitting second in the table and three points behind Unsworth’s side with two games remaining.
