Backline frailties concern Curle

Keith Curle blasted his defence as Notts County exited the Johnstone's Paint Trophy following a 4-1 defeat to Sheffield United.

Shaun Miller and Harry Maguire scored two goals apiece for the Blades while Jordan Stewart struck a sublime consolation for the hosts when the game was all-but-over as a contest. Curle said: "If you don't defend your 18-yard box and your goalmouth they are going to steal in and score goals against you. "I think we defended appallingly (from set plays). That willingness to attack the first ball in the 18-yard box wasn't there. "If you let people attack the ball and make their runs in the box there is a likelihood that they are going to get on the end of the ball. "The easy thing is to say now we can concentrate on the league, but I'm still bitterly disappointed by the performance and the manner in which we went out of the cup."