St Albans City head coach David Noble could not hide his disappointment after their 4-0 loss at Braintree.

Saints returned to National League South action after a 10-day break, but conceded four times in the first half.

And Noble pulled few punches in his post-match assessment.

"Probably my most disappointing day as a manager I would say," he told the club website.

"Four-nil down before half-time, it's worrying.

"The manner of the goals, people not doing their jobs correctly, that they've been told before the game.

"There was not a thing right. To be outworked. Braintree had an energy, a workrate about them, and we didn't."

The Iron took the lead on 18 minutes when Joe Grimwood headed home, with Shaquile Coulthirst running through to dink the ball past Sam Bentley soon after.

Will Davies made it 3-0 on a counter-attack, with Coulthirst grabbing his second before the interval.

And Saints could not find a way back after the restart, failing to score against Braintree for a fifth successive time.

"I suppose there is [bogey teams] because there wouldn't be these little things," added Noble.

"They do seem to happen, that's a worrying stat. I don't know if we had a shot, so I don't think that hoodoo was going to get broken.

"Just all over the park, second best to every ball. I don't think we won a second ball, I don't think we won a duel, I don't think we could keep it.

"Just the enthusiasm and energy, there was no noise, it was worrying."

The defeat equalled Noble's biggest in charge, matching the 4-0 loss to Oxford City in the play-off final.

And he admitted to feeling the same sense of disappointment.

"It's not as big a game, but just the same, a similar feeling," he said.

"It's worrying. We keep saying the same things, is the penny ever going to drop.

"At least go out and show a bit of fight. Try and win the second half.

"At least it was 0-0 but I'm guessing they've took their foot off the pedal."

Noble said the support of the travelling fans was one pleasing thing on the night, but he wanted to see much more from his players.

"I could hear them singing the whole second half," he added.

"I don't see the hunger to pick up a spare ball, people holding people accountable.

"You should be fresh, coming out with a point to prove, coming off a defeat.

"You're looking to keep your shirt if you've got it. Somebody win a tackle, somebody win a header.

"It was very passive. It's a worrying defeat."

Saints return to Clarence Park on Saturday to host Tonbridge Angels, with Noble suggesting wholesale changes could be made.

"If I change the XI no-one could be asking me why they're being dropped," he said.

"That's what you've got to do. When you've got the shirt, you've got to keep it. Simple as that.

"You're playing a game you love, a game of football. That's the sport you wanted to play since a kid.

"Go out and show some enthusiasm, want to play, want to win, want to effect the game. We didn't do that.

"Look at the players that are playing. They're not putting up a fight to hold their shirt.

"We need some players back, some fresh faces, we need a bit of enthusiasm.

"A bit of fight, not wanting to get beat. Go out and affect your opponent, affect the game."