Ian Allinson has issued a battle cry after seeing his St Albans City side come from behind to beat Weston-super-Mare – if we’re going down, we’re going down with a fight.

The Saints boss was delighted with the effort his side showed in a huge relegation clash in the Vanarama National League South and says supporters, and opposing teams, should expect more of the same.

He said: “Anyone who knows me and my teams know it is about heart and passion.

“I’m not going to allow these last 10 games to just drift away and that’s something I’ve been trying to get across to the players.

“If we show that heart and passion and we look at ourselves in the mirror at the end of the season and we’ve given everything we’ve got but failed, it’s not because we haven’t been good enough in the last 10 games; it’s because we haven’t been good enough in the first 30 games.

“And that’s the way it’s going to be.”

The performance against Weston on Tuesday night was full of attacking intent with chances galore at one end and Joe Welch a virtual spectator at the other.

And Allinson said that was borne of necessity.

“We still missed three or four before a fantastic finish from Michael Thalassitis,” he said.

“The goalkeeper’s made two great saves; we’ve missed two or three great headers. We put ourselves under pressure but once we got the second goal we saw the game out very well.

“We’ve got no options now than to chase the game. Games are running out. We’ve got nine games to go now and some important six-pointers coming up.

“And it is important we have a go in every one of these games, try and get on the front foot and try and put the ball in the box.

“It’s going to be ugly at times because we’ve got to go and play that way. We’re not going to score goals from 30 or 40 yards.

“We’ve got Harry Anderson who can beat people from a standing start and if we don’t get the ball to him and get crosses into the box, we’re not going to score goals.

“Lets get the ball forward. We’ve got four very good forward players in Charlie MacDonald, Michael Thalassitis, Louie Theophanous and Harry Anderson so let’s use their strengths.”

He reserved praise for Thalassitis, whose introduction from the subs bench was the catalyst for Saints’ revival.

He said: “I think Michael has been a little bit hurt, sitting there waiting for his chance. But I felt Charlie and Theo have done well in the last couple of games.

“But it was a great reaction from Michael when he came on.

“He scored his goal, was involved in a lot of things that went on and then Theo’s come off the left wing and got the chance when we needed it.

“In the last 20 minutes we virtually went four up-front because that’s what we’ve got to do now with nine games to go.”