Ian Allinson says the performance which led to St Albans City’s 3-0 lose against Whitehawk was one of the worst of his Clarence Park tenure.

The Saints were outplayed by a Whitehawk side which came into the clash sitting rock bottom of the National League South table.

Goals from Nassim L’Ghoul Tomi Adeloye and Gold Omotayo proved the difference and Allinson was critical of his side’s display in the wake of the loss.

“That was one of the worst performances under me,” the City boss said. “We have been caught overplaying in the wrong areas and they have punished us massively.

“Three could have been four or five in the end. They got exactly what they deserved and we were second best all over the park for long periods of the game today.

“Inspiration, communication and enthusiasm, everything we needed wasn’t there today and it is really disappointing and poor to see.”

Despite the loss, City remain in fourth spot in the National League South table and are on track to secure a play-off spot.

The defeat came after a run of games in which City have had to ride their luck en route to picking up points and Allinson is aware of the worrying trend.

He felt some of his players took their relegation-threatened opposition for granted and says such a result has been on the cards for some time.

“In the last four or five games Dean [Snedker] has had to make some good saves to keep us in the game before we have got going,” he said.

“We got our backsides smacked today and we have to realise that it is a tough, tough league.

“Whitehawk have only lost two games since Christmas against Dartford and Chippenham and are probably playing like one of the better sides in the league.”

At the time of going to press St Albans were preparing to take on Bognor Regis away from home in another game which pits them against the division’s bottom side.

The Clarence Park club’s hopes of reaching the play-offs remain very much in their own hands, but they will be concious of the need to avoid slip ups similar to the one suffered on Saturday.

Allinson believes his players are failing to take on the messages he is giving them before matches and has implored them to do so between now and the end of the season.

“The players didn’t take on the information we have given them and that is quite a worry,” he said.

“If people are not going to listen at this stage of the season, we are going to undo all the good work we have done.

“We have really tough games coming up and information has to be taken on very quickly. We can only warn the players enough.”

City still have a five point gap to eighth-place Braintree Town despite the surprise loss to Whitehawk and have a game in hand over Hampton & Richmond, who are a place above them in the table.

They follow their midweek meeting with Bognor by another away day against Havant & Waterlooville which will be a testing encounter on Saturday.

The league leaders are unbeaten in four games and strengthened their position with a 1-0 win over Welling United last time out.