SLOUGH Town joint-manager Neil Baker was left feeling furious with his side after the 2-1 defeat against Gloucester City on Tuesday, writes Rob Stevens.

The Rebels conceded a first-half lead at Arbour Park and are now five matches without a win, which all but ends their chances of reaching the play-offs in the National League South this season.

Slough took the lead after 12 minutes through Matthew Lench, his first goal since returning to the club four weeks ago.

Gloucester equalised with a goal out of the blue from Fabien Robert six minutes after the break, before Josh Thomas struck in the 76th minute to secure an important win in their battle against relegation.

Baker told the Observer: “I’m furious with the players. We show a lot of faith in them, we look after and protect them but they showed a weak under-belly in the second half.

“Gloucester scored with an absolutely wonderful strike which you can’t do a lot about, but it’s about the reaction from there.

“We kept on going but we just haven’t got enough ruthlessness around us as a side.

“The should have been out of sight, probably in the first-half, but it’s not and we get punished again, and rightfully so. We were weak mentally and it’s not often we say that.

“It was a real disappointment and we pulled no punches in the changing room afterwards. I said I would rather go with some kids than a few performances.

“Maybe that’s a little bit of my frustration at the moment and I’m sure I will calm down because a lot of them have been good for us, but the performance in the second half was unacceptable and I’m bitterly disappointed.”

He continued: “The problem for us has been a lack of goals. We’ve lost some players who have put the ball in the back of the net and we haven’t been able to replace them yet.

“That’s what happens in football. If you don’t get yourself in a comfortable position it becomes nervy and too often recently we’ve come out for the second half and not been good enough.

“It just compounds the last-second equaliser last weekend really.

“I’ve got nothing positive to say about anyone. There were a few home truths said in the changing room and their might be one or two needing to look over their shoulders.

“Goals win you games and but we are not killing teams off when we’re much the better side in the first half.

“Gloucester didn’t even show any ambition in the second half to go an win it at 1-1. They were probably happy with a draw.

“They sat in, played deep and made it hard for us to find space, but even then they caught us on the break.

“It was a terrible second goal but probably on the cards. We didn’t show enough in midweek and the players have to take the responsibility for that.”

The defeat sees Slough remain in 12th position in the league table but now nine points behind Dartford, who visit Arbour Park this Saturday (3pm), in the final play-off spot.