The overarching theme of St Albans City joint manager James Gray’s post-match interview after seeing his side beaten 4-2 by Sutton United was “we need to be better”.

He used the phrase half a dozen times to describe City’s inept defensive display and their inability to convert goal-scoring chances.

While John Frendo and Sean Shields found the net, both were also guilty of squandering chances; the former missing a penalty and the latter hooking a shot wide, both with City trailing 1-0 following a fifth minute goal from Jamie Taylor.

“We can’t give teams a lift up like we have been,” said Gray.

“If we defend like we do and don’t take our chance it’ll be a hard season. Defensively we were poor and we had guilt edged chances that we missed. It’s not a good recipe so we need to be better.

He added: “On reflection, there’s food for thought for us and at times we match them but the gals we conceded today, and throughout the season, are laughable; we need to rectify it.

“There’s no point pointing fingers; we’ve got to work on it and get better at it. This league is unforgiving and the difference between two sides [wasn’t much]. We match them and created enough but they defended better than us and put the bal in the net at the right times.”

St Albans’ schedule does not get any easier, either. They travel to Ebbsfleet on Saturday before welcoming Bromley to Clarence Park next Monday. While it will be a challenge, it’s also a chance to right a few wrongs, according to the manager.

“We need to be sharper up front, in the final third and defensively,” he said.

“On general play we had a lion’s share of the game but we need to be better. I’m disappointed and so are the lads but we stick together and go again next week.”