St Albans City joint manager James Gray admits his players are “shot to pieces” and is ready to make significant changes to the team if he does not get a positive reaction.

The Saints extended their winless run to seven games after their third successive defeat at Concord Rangers. City’s 2-1 loss has left them 16th in the Conference South table and the manager has admitted this is the toughest test of his short managerial career.

Gray said: “We were nowhere near good enough again and I’m not going to make any excuses for the boys. We have to find our form and get it right.

“We’ve got seven games left to try to put it right but at the minute the boys are shot to pieces and it’s our job to try to lift these boys and get something going because it’s been difficult.”

The Saints boss admitted: “It’s a massive test and I’m searching deep within myself and I’ve just said to the boys is it going to be a situation where they can’t change their mentality and get into a relegation dogfight.

“At the minute it’s difficult and I’ll be as honest as I possibly can. We’re in bad trouble at the minute.”

“At the moment everything I’m asking the boys to do they’re doing completely the opposite. It’s not a good place in that dressing room at the minute. It’s the first time I’ve been involved in a situation like this in management and I've got to try to find a way of getting it right.”

Gray is not afraid to make changes and admits there are only so many chances he can give to his team.

He said: “I’ve got players ringing me up left, right and centre. If I want to change it this week I’ll change it around no problem and I’ve let them know that.

“I’ll only get to a certain point where I’ve given them enough rope to hang themselves. If they don’t do what I’m asking to do then there’s no two ways about it they will be down the road.

“That’s not me being ruthless. It’s me saying I’m not getting into a relegation scrap where I’m looking over my shoulder on the last game of the season.”

Gray’s side travel to Boreham Wood tonight in the semi final of the Herts Senior Cup and warned his players he needs an immediate response.

The manager said: “I’ll see what reaction I get and if not then I will definitely be in the market to change it around. I’ve already highlighted players and it could happen this week. But first and foremost I still believe in this group and that we have the right mentality in areas and the right players that can fight.

“But as a whole the mentality needs to shift quickly and we need to understand the severity of what we’re up against at the moment. If they can’t do that then I will change it. If they can then hopefully we’ll get enough in the bank to stay in this division and see where we go in the summer.”

The Saints host 15th placed Weston-super-Mare on Saturday and Gray wants his players to play without fear and tension.

He said: “We look like rabbits caught in the headlights. We’re frightened to make mistakes and express ourselves on the ball.

“It's all getting a bit cagey and players are doing foreign things. We just need to get back to basics and drop all this anxiety around the place and get back to winning a game of football. As soon as we do that I think we’ll be alright but we’re on a bad run.”

The Harpenden Construction Limited February player of the month award went to Jamal Lowe. It will be presented prior to this weekend’s game against Weston-super-Mare.