Ian Poulter 'disgusted' by his World Match Play elimination

England's Ian Poulter called his performance "disgusting, disgraceful and unacceptable" after he exited the World Match Play Championship at the first stage in Bulgaria.

Poulter, who inspired Europe's Ryder Cup triumph at Medinah last year, lost his opening group game to Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee on Thursday.

And Poulter, 37, was angry after his 18th-hole defeat against Thomas Aiken.

"There is no excuse for that display of golf over the last two days," he said.

"It's disgusting, disgraceful and there's no explanation. I should have been able to finish the match off.

"My concentration was simply not there and therefore you make mental errors when you have not used your brain. It's completely unacceptable."

Poulter, who won the event in 2011, was two down with four to play against South African Aiken and got back on level terms with birdies on the 15th and 16th.

But Hertfordshire-born Poulter bogeyed the last after hooking his drive onto the adjacent fourth fairway and failing to get up and down after hitting his approach just over the green.

Asked where he went to next, he said: "The tallest tree with the shortest rope."

However, Poulter expected to regain his form quickly and perform well at next week's BMW PGA Championship, adding: 'I will get to England and win at Wentworth'.

Belgian defending champion Nicolas Colsaerts reached the knockout stages after defeating Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat.

Colsaerts will take on Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano in the last 16 after the Spaniard beat Brett Rumford 3&2 to top their group, although the pair were already assured of going through.

Victory in Bulgaria would see Australian Rumford become only the third man - following the late Seve Ballesteros and Nick Faldo - in European Tour history to win three consecutive events.

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell remains on course to go one better than his runners-up finish last year thanks to a 4&2 win over Scotland's Stephen Gallacher.