City players lost their voices at the weekend, according to Bryan Gunn. 'We want them all to organise and that was probably one of the disappointing aspects today, that we didn't have enough voices on the pitch,' said the City manager.

City players lost their voices at the weekend, according to Bryan Gunn.

“We want them all to organise and that was probably one of the disappointing aspects today, that we didn't have enough voices on the pitch,” said the City manager.

“The other games we have had we have had very vocal leadership qualities from a lot of the players, but we felt they were a little bit quiet today.

“I suppose the result overshadows that side of it, but being ultra-critical that is probably one of the areas we let ourselves down in.

“There are plenty of leaders on the pitch now, plenty of organisers on the pitch, we just felt that they didn't do that to the same level as they had been doing in the rest of the games, but they know that now and again they have got to reach those standards next week.”

Gunn again observed the match from in the stands, a departure from last season when he spent most of his time in front of the dug-out.

During pre-season he has been on the touchline only once, against St Johnstone - and that was forced on him because the game was played on an open playing field.

Sitting alongside coach Ian Crook he has communicated with his assistant, Ian Butterworth, via a link to goalkeeping coach Paul Crichton - and if City keep winning, it may stay that way.

“It does give you a different view and sitting beside Ian Crook we can discuss things and transfer the information quickly to the bench, as long as Paul Crichton gets his radio right - we had a couple of problems throughout the day.

“It gives you a different dimension and I suppose so far, apart from St Johnstone, I've kept away from the side of the pitch, but we'll see.

“There has been a lot of positive stuff so far, not too may negatives, and if it is all positive I will probably stay in the stand longer. It has given me something to think about as well.

“It is something we will look at - it is not set in stone, but during pre-season it has worked and if I am sitting in the stand in the 90th minute against Colchester it means that things have gone right.”