St Albans City joint manager James Gray believes his side need a mentality shift to halt the inconsistency which has riddled their season.

Gray was left dejected after their 2-1 defeat at Bishop’s Stortford on Saturday. But the Saints responded two days later on Easter Monday with a comprehensive 3-0 home win over Eastbourne Borough.

The City boss said: “Sometimes I have to do things to get a reaction. Deep down I know what kind of quality we have got here. It’s our job to try to get the best out of these boys week in, week out.

“It’s definitely not about ability. Maybe we need a bit of a mentality shift to get into them. There’s a bit of soul searching and we need to get this right because Saturday I would have changed the whole squad. I was that dejected and annoyed by the way we played.

“Then they go and do that today with that performance and put a side that has been the form team in the league and made them look absolutely bang average. They didn’t threaten us and we controlled the whole game. I’m at a bit of a loss to try and figure out what we’ve got to do but it’s mine and Graham’s (Golds) job to try to tweak and work with what we’ve got to make it better.”

Gray continued: “We’ve got a big job on our hands during the summer. But I’m looking forward to it much more than I would have been on Saturday to try to do the little tweaks to get a mentality shift out of the boys because they are better than they’ve shown this season so far.”

The Saints opened the scoring on Monday with a stunning goal when Steve Wales struck a spectacular 26-yard volley past goalkeeper Lewis Carey after 21 minutes.

City doubled their lead before the break when James Comley sent in a cross and striker Simon Thomas fired home his first goal at Clarence Park.

The hosts sealed the points midway through the second half when Adam Watts deflected the ball past his own goalkeeper.

Gray said: “We made them look ordinary. We worked our socks off and won all the first and second balls. We didn’t make any individual, silly mistakes and defended well. It was a proper performance by us and we broke their will in the second half.”

The Saints made five changes after their dismal showing on Saturday with Howard Hall, James Kaloczi, Jo N’Guessan, John Frendo and Jamal Lowe all left out.

Gray said: “There were some very good individual performances and the lads that were left out now have to fight to get the shirts back. It’s a great position to be in for the management. There’s no divine right for any player to be getting in that starting XI week in, week out. Too many times this season the lads that have had the shirt have let themselves down. Today the lads that had the shirt didn’t let themselves down. I thought it was a masterful performance and I’m pleased for the boys.”

Before the kick off, a minute’s silence was held in memory of Barrie King, who passed away at the age of 74 in Adelaide at the end of last month.

During the 1962/63 season, the midfielder played five times for the Amateur England side, as he became the fifth and final St Albans City player to be selected for England.

King made 162 appearances between 1958 and 1963 for the Saints.

There is a St Albans City team and supporters’ coach going to Gosport Borough for the game this Saturday.

The coach will depart at 10.15am from the Clarence Park entrance to the ground. To reserve £15 seats, call Ian Rogers on 07714 145862.