Joint manager James Gray acknowledged that St Albans City are in a rut but insists they are nearly out of it.

The Saints have lost four of their last five Vanarama Conference South games, the sole win coming against Weston-Super-Mare, but the manager believes the margins in defeat were narrow.

“We’re nearly getting there - we’re a nearly team at the moment,” said Gray.

“Every throw-in and corner that’s bouncing around it seems to be them getting a head, toe or knee on it and it’s not us.

“It’s difficult, tough to take. We’re on a tough run at the moment and it’s not going to get any easier.”

He added: “When it’s hard we have to work harder.”

City have 19 points on the board from 15 games this season, a “good return” according to Gray, but he acknowledges that have to learn from their mistakes.

“We have to establish ourselves in this league but we’re not going to run before we can walk,” he said.

“There are positives to take and if we get better individually, in regards to mistakes, then collectively it’ll come as well.

“We need to be thinking we’re going the right way by Christmas. I don’t want to be sucked into a dogfight down there with the other promoted teams.”