Gary McCann was brutally honest when looking back at the Harrow Borough game on Boxing Day.

"Our defending was absolutely calamitous," he said. "All five of the goals were preventable by us and I’m disappointed that three of them came because we wasted the ball near to our goal and soon after the ball was in our net.

"The first ten minutes of the second half played its part in our defeat. We had done ever so well to come back from conceding a bad goal three times and then taken the lead just before half-time. But then it all went wrong.

"Normally when I criticise any area of the team, the others have to take some of the responsibility, too, but I am not sure I can do that with the way we have defended recently. I'm not convinced the full-backs were protected overly well all game. The midfield two worked very hard today and the two lads up front gave me everything I wanted.

"Before the free-kick we conceded for the first goal, we could and should have cleared the ball twice. The challenge was careless and the free-kick was the right decision.

"The second and third goals were avoidable, like most goals are. I was told the penalty we conceded was soft, but we gave away good possession and shortly after a dubious penalty.

"As for the last goal, a missed pass, a lack of organisation from the throw in and three defenders out of position just about topped it off.

"We certainly had chances to get back into the game after going 5-4 down. Arthur Lee went close with his header, but was off target and Karl Oliyide was denied by a very good save.

"But if we're looking for positives, Dave Diedhiou looked good in his comeback and Karl and Reis Stanislaus have given us excellent performances and goals in the last three games.

"We are in a dogfight now and we need to bring in some hard-nosed players to get us out of it. We are so lacking in self-confidence at the moment, we need to get out of this rut and I will work tirelessly to bring in the right players for the run in.

"I think too many of the team are not showing the mental resolve required. What we have served up in recent games is not good enough."