City trailed 2-0 at the main change of its National Premier League two west hit-out, but it was the manner of the performance that was the source of the frustration.

Gnjidic said the group came out flat, eventually losing 3-0. Gnjidic has often stressed this season, that it is better than its ladder position reflects, but he said on Sunday it looked like a second bottom team.

“Today we played like a team that’s second bottom,” Gnjidic said.

“We didn’t show up for the first 45 minutes and we were forced to play catch-up.

“We didn’t apply enough pressure on the ball, it was like a shadow training session at times.

“I was expecting an energised performance and we were very flat in the first half.

“We gave them a bit of a serve at half-time, which they more than deserved.”

City gave a response after half-time, creating opportunities, but were unable to find the back of the net.

With five minutes to go, Victory scored on the counterattack to put an exclamation mark on the result.

Gnjidic vented his frustration regarding the group’s application, saying if they brought the heat for the entire 90 minutes, they may have been able to come away with some points.

“If our boys had of demonstrated that attitude, desire and passion in the first half that they did in the first half-an-hour of the second half, then we might’ve got a result today.”

City is five points ahead of bottom, but has now lost touch with the sides just above it. Next week Ballarat will hit the road for the long trip to Albury to face Murray United.