St Albans City manager Harry Wheeler admits Saturday’s home game with Truro City is a must-win clash and their most important match of the season after dropping to the foot of the National League South table.

The Saints suffered a 4-1 defeat at Oxford City on Saturday despite leading until the 60th minute which has left them in desperate need of a victory to boost their survival hopes.

Wheeler said: “No-one can exaggerate the importance of this weekend’s game. It’s the biggest match of the season. We have to win and a draw is not enough.

“We haven’t lost at home since I took over and we don’t intend that to change on Saturday.”

Wheeler believes the squad needs freshening up to give them a much-needed lift and he completed the surprise signing of former Watford midfielder Al Bangura on Monday. Bangura spent four years with the Hornets and was at Coventry City last season.

Wheeler said: “Al has that experience and desire to do a job.

"He is professional and importantly he is a team player rather than an individual even when he was at the top. That’s what we were looking for right now.

“The aim is to have him for the rest of the season but we won’t stand in his way if another offer comes in from a professional club abroad.”

The Saints boss added: “It’s just a fresh mind and some of the players have got into a losing mentality this season. We do need it because we needed to make changes. We definitely need people like that for their experience and leadership.”

City made a promising start on Saturday and deservedly led 1-0 at half-time.

Charlie MacDonald made his debut and only needed ten minutes to open the scoring. Louie Theophanous’ shot was parried and MacDonald bundled in the rebound.

But the match turned on its head in the second half as the hosts scored four times in the space of 15 minutes.

Bradley Bubb levelled the game on the hour mark with a deflected effort. Tom Bender had a goal disallowed for a foul in the build-up by MacDonald and within a minute the Saints were behind through Darren Pond.

It did not take long for Oxford to add a third goal through Conor McDonagh before substitute Marlon Jackson completed the turnaround.

Wheeler said: “For an hour they did everything I asked of them and if we’d carried that on for 90 minutes we would have won.

"It went wrong because people didn’t do their jobs.”

The Saints City Trust have arranged a Fans’ Forum which will take place tonight at the Saints Bar.

Co-owner Lawrence Levy, chairman Nick Archer, director of football Adam Lee and Wheeler are due to attend.