Ian Allinson believes both he and his St Albans City players must improve rapidly after a 4-1 loss against Bath City further dented their play-off hopes.

City were second best throughout the clash at Clarence Park and are now four points adrift of the National League South top five.

Just one win in 10 games has undermined the club's strong first half of the season and Allinson is aware of the need for his side to rediscover their form.

"At the moment, from myself as the leader of this ship to the players we are not performing," Allinson said.

"The worst thing that could happen to us is on April 30 we wake up still in this league.

"There are positives to take from the first half of the season, but it would be wrong for us now to sit back and accept what is going on, because that is not good enough."

Saturday's defeat saw familiar failings undermine the Saints' hopes of taking a positive result, as defensive frailties led to them conceding cheaply.

Goals from Marvin Morgan, Nick McCootie and Shawn McCoulsky gave Bath a 3-0 lead before Charlie Walker hit back just after the hour.

Shaun Lucien then had a penalty saved and Bath sealed the defeat through Andy Watkins' late strike.

Having seen his side play well in patches, Allinson believes a lack of confidence, coupled with individual errors, are costing City.

"We are going through a phase at the moment where we are lacking a bit of confidence. Winning brings confidence, but when you are losing you lack it," he said.

"We started really brightly, really sharp, but within seven minutes we were 1-0 down and again we have been caught with a sucker punch.

"We were poor defensively, poor all over the park."

City have little time to feel sorry for themselves and a visit to relegation-threatened Truro City awaits on Saturday.

Truro's abject form, which has seen them lose four games on the bounce, means they could provide the ideal tonic to the Saints' troubles.

Allinson knows the need for three points is growing increasingly urgent, and therefore insists St Albans will treat strugglers Truro with respect.

"The one thing I would like to think that we are not is complacent," he said.

"I have to keep my nerve because I do believe in the dressing room. I think we have one or two who have dropped below their usual standard.

"I have been in this situation before and all I can do is keep trying to get the best out of the players and get them to believe in themselves.

"We need to snap out of this form quickly and it is a problem which has crept up on us really."

City will look to replicate the performance which saw them hammer Truro 5-0 at home in October.

A similar scoreline would take them up to sixth, dependant on Hampton & Richmond and Chelmsford City's results.