PAOLO Di Canio has excused himself of any responsibility for Swindon Town’s 2-0 defeat to Macclesfield in the FA Cup on Saturday, lumping the blame entirely on his players.

Town were dumped out of the world’s most famous knockout competition by perhaps their most humiliating loss under the Italian, as a Tony Diagne strike and Louis Thompson’s late own goal left all associated with the Robins quickly wanting to forget the afternoon’s events.

Afterwards, when asked by the Advertiser whether having no remaining cup distractions could benefit Swindon’s league campaign, Di Canio answered with a rant that culminated in his claim that his squad was entirely at fault.

He said: “I would like to have distractions. It’s thanks to the players, not to me.

“I prepared fantastically - exactly the tactics individually. You could see in the first half anyway. “The problem was we didn’t have the fire up front or in the middle or in the wide areas. Raffaele (De Vita) and Gary (Roberts) were absolutely pathetic in the first half, without any sort of desire.

“Up front Andy Williams wanted to sort out on his own straight away through twists and turns. He struggled, I told him at the end of the first half to play simple and attack the space every time, he twists, turns, twists, turns, loses the balance, falls down.

“That is the limit. He’s 26, the best position he’s been at is at Yeovil – 18th position – in his career. He can improve but he has to listen carefully what I want from him.

“It’s not an accusation to one in particular. In five minutes they’re probably going to go out and have a pizza, smiling – this is a new generation unfortunately.

“Even if I tell you I don’t have any fault, and I believe in it, I always find a way to accuse myself.

“Could I maybe have sent a better message and played Aaron (Oakley)? Aaron has only had two days with us. This is why I can’t find fault on myself today.

“I try because I’m nasty with myself, I’m tough with myself. But I’m sorry, today Paolo Di Canio you cannot find a way to feel guilty.

“My players are guilty completely.”