Jimmy Quinn was disappointed with the result but not the performance in Saturday's 3-0 defeat at home to Kidderminster Harriers.

It was only United's second home defeat of the season to a true 'bogey team' - one United have not beaten since 1959 - but despite a host of chances the U's failed to find the net and defensive mistakes allowed the visitors to leave with the points.

"I'm not disappointed with the performance but it was individual mistakes that cost us today," Quinn commented afterwards.

"It was twofold really; we made mistakes at the back through a lack of communication, and we had enough chances to get back in the game but we just didn't show the composure to get a good strike on it to put the ball in the net.

"I know people are disappointed, and I'm disappointed too, but I've got to keep these lads going and keep their heads up. We're struggling to score goals as the moment and the only place you put that right is on the training field, so we've got some work to do this week and we've got to get the spirit back too.

"I thought there were some good performances out there," Quinn added. "We had a lot of the ball but Kidderminster, like any other team away from home, when they went a goal up they put men behind the ball and made it difficult."

The U's manager opted for a new-look strike force of loanees Magno Vieira and Jack Jeffery, with Lee Boylan and Mark Beesley confined to the bench until during the second half, but players from all areas of the pitch spurned chances to score as corners, free kicks and attacking moves all went unconverted.

"You'd have to say Kidderminster defended well but we must have had fifteen corners today and we didn't show the appetite to get on the end of them," said Quinn, "and I lost count of the efforts that we could have put in the back of the net and we were snatching at them.

"It's like like anything - to get better at something you have to practice it and it's back to the training ground on Monday, but we have to put this behind us. It's still in our hands and we've still got enough games left to get the points that we need, and although this is disappointing for everybody we've got to keep the lads going."

Having only taken one point from the last four games, and four from the last six games, United have dropped from second to fourth in the table and Stevenage and Exeter are just below with games in hand.

Quinn acknowledged that the team are on a poor run of form, but added, "We've lost games for different reasons. On Monday it was the sending-off (Danny Potter) and today it was individual mistakes from one or two players, but it's about coping with pressure in football.

"You've got to cope with pressure and I thought we panicked once or twice today at both ends of the pitch; if we'd have showed a bit of composure at both ends we would have got something out of the game. I told the lads at half-time that we had to be positive and get the ball into the right areas and get crosses into the box and force the issue, and we started the second half ever so well but we needed a goal.

"Goals change the course of games and win you games, and we didn't score today so there's where the problem lies. It's back on the training field and if we have to practice our shooting and movement all week then that's what we'll do.

"You need to have a cool head and I'll need to have a cool head this week. The players are looking to me for leadership and that's what I'll do. I try to take the pressure off them and they'll hopefully regain their focus a little bit, but mistakes always cost you games and in the last couple of games we've made mistakes that have cost us games.

"I won't harp on about it because I don't want the players going out there feeling nervous in case they make mistakes, so it's a case of getting the balance right and I'll try to keep their heads up."

The manager concluded, "I wasn't disappointed with the performance. Obviously the result is the be all and end all of football, but what we have to do now is scrap out a result. Forget the performance, this is about scrapping out a result and trying to get some points on the board."

United are next in action away to Droylsden on Saturday at 3pm.

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