JON Macken has left his Radcliffe side in no doubt he expects instant improvement after a worrying dip in form.

A poor first-half display against Mossley was largely responsible for their Manchester Senior Cup semi-final defeat on Tuesday night – but Macken admits Boro’s league results have also become a cause for concern.

Radcliffe face a big week, travelling to Droylsden on Saturday before hosting seventh-placed Leek Town on Tuesday night at the Neuven Stadium.

And looking back at a desperately disappointing cup exit, Macken is keen to get an immediate response.

“It’s up to them,” he said after the 3-2 defeat. “We give them the tools and the platform to win these games and they can’t turn it on and off when they choose.

“We will rally again, we will try and get everyone back, but I think a few home truths needed to be said because it has been bitterly disappointing over the Christmas period and up to now in January.

“We have got to get a reaction. You never know which Radcliffe is going to turn up at the moment."

Boro went in at half time 3-0 down against Mossley in a game Macken would rather forget.

“It was probably the worst first-half performance I’ve had since I have been at the club,” he said. “I think the occasion got to a lot of them, I don’t think they turned up at all, it was rabbits in headlights, so to speak.

“They capitalised with the goals. At the end of the day they are a good team, they work hard, they put pressure on the ball, they put pressure on you as a player to make mistakes, and that’s what we did.

"It’s nowhere near a good enough level of performance, attitude, desire, I don’t think it was at all, from anyone.

“I thought certain players, this would be a big occasion for them, and they didn’t turn up, which is worrying.

“If they can’t get themselves up for a semi-final then what’s the point?"

“You try and give them every bit of information, a game-plan, and it goes totally out of the window when you don’t put work-rate in, desire to tackle and win the first ball, to go and run in behind them, it just wasn’t there first half.”

Macken has also strengthened his hand with the signing of Striker Leon Wright, midfielder Tom Brown and defender Lee Neville.