DEREK McInnes issued an apology to those supporters who made the long trek to see Bristol City lose 3-0 to fellow Championship strugglers Peterborough United.

Nearly 500 fans travelled the near-400 miles from Bristol to Peterborough and back, only to witness one of the worst performances of a season that has been littered with under-achievement.

After enduring arguably the poorest display of his four-month managerial reign, City boss McInnes said sorry to the fans and promised to work even harder in a bid to stave off the growing threat of relegation.

City may still be six points clear of the drop zone, courtesy of Portsmouth being docked ten points after going into administration, but the manager admitted his team's display at London Road was not acceptable.

McInnes, pictured, said: "I'd like to apologise to the fans for that performance. It was not good enough and we know we have to improve and be better than that.

"You have to feel for the fans, because they have come a long way on a cold and wet day, spent good money and gone home unhappy.

"When they travel in those numbers over a distance like that, they deserve more than they got."

Lee Tomlin scored either side of a strike from David Ball to secure Peterborough's first win since Boxing Day, and McInnes conceded his team's display was probably the worst since he took charge in mid-October.

He said: "It was a poor performance. I thought we were second best for much of the game and the final scoreline reflected that.

"We made a lot of poor decisions defensively and were loose in possession. We had a good spell early in the second half when we looked the side more likely to score, but we were sloppy with the chances that came our way. After that, the second goal has finished and you have to say Peterborough were by far the better team by the end."

McInnes made three changes to his starting line-up and switched to a 4-4-2 formation for the first time in two months, deploying winger Albert Adomah alongside the recalled Brett Pitman in attack.

The changes appeared to cause confusion and, when it became clear the team shape was not working, McInnes moved Adomah out wide, pushed Stephen Pearson further forward on the left flank and adopted a 4-3-3 system for the final 20 minutes of the first half.

He then took off midfielder Kalifa Cisse and introduced striker Chris Wood at half-time and City enjoyed their best spell of the match when returning to 4-4-2 at the start of the second period. But McInnes insisted his tactics were not responsible for such a limp performance and instead pointed the finger of blame at his players.

He said: "Although there were some aspects that pleased me, there were far more that did not. I've said this before, but the players have to start taking responsibility and focusing on the individual jobs they are given on the field. Regardless of selection, tactics and team shape, Peterborough looked more ready to play than we did and that is what we need to address."

To make matters worse, centre-back Stephen McManus joined a mounting casualty list after he limped off with a thigh strain midway through the second half.

City are already without the influential Louis Carey, Cole Skuse and Lewin Nyatanga, while McManus, signed on loan from Middlesbrough last week, could now miss next Saturday's home game against Blackpool. But McInnes is refusing to use the recent spate of injuries to excuse a depressing run of results that has seen City lose six out of their last eight games..

He said: "Stephen McManus has damaged a thigh and it is serious enough. We will have to get it looked at urgently, but it is fair to say he is more than doubtful for the weekend.

"But I'm not going to start making excuses. It is clear to see that we have had to make too many changes and players have come off injured in the last few games.

"Regardless of the injury situation, though, I still feel we should be serving the club a lot better than we are at the moment."