Joint manager Graham Golds admits St Albans City are stuttering and need to rediscover the form which pushed them into play-off contention.

The Saints produced a patchy display to beat Bedford Town 2-1 on Saturday before losing at home to Hitchin Town in the Herts Charity Cup last night.

Golds said: “We are stuttering a little bit but I think there are a lot of nerves at this stage of the season. It gets a bit jittery and we just need to relax and get back to playing the football in the early part and middle of the season.

“We need to get back to this form but I’m sure it will come. We just need to get enough points to get into the play-offs and then I think we will relax and enjoy our football.

“All we have to do is worry about our own performances and ensure that we get back into the swing of things.”

Golds added: “The league was always the most important thing for us and our cup exit could be a blessing in disguise. We just have to concentrate on getting a play-off place now.”

The Saints have had a busy week of transfer activity with Richard Graham leaving and St Albans have brought in Chesham midfielder Steve Wales until the end of the season.

Golds said: “He is a goalscoring midfielder and it’s no secret that we’ve lacked this all season. We don’t get enough goals from around the park.

“It’s been something that we’ve been trying to find so hopefully he will be a good addition.”

Golds admitted the reason Graham has left is due to financial reasons.

He said: “Richard has done well for us but we needed to let someone go. For budget reasons, it was basically one in and one out.”

The Saints are hoping to bring in another striker but Golds insists Mark Nwokeji has not left the club and is just sidelined through injury.

Another new arrival is striker George Sykes after the young Barnet forward joined on loan. Sykes made his debut in Saturday’s Southern Premier Division win.

Golds said: “I thought he did well for his first game. He has an aerial presence and comes here with a good pedigree at Barnet.”

The Saints will have to manage without keeper Paul Bastock this weekend at Bashley as he starts his three-match ban.

Golds, whose side will hand a league debut to 21-year-old Tom Coulton, said: “Tom will come in for Paul and he’s always done well for us in the cup matches so it’s not a problem.”