EAST Thurrock United manager John Coventry believes the vast majority of his players felt they couldn’t beat Spennymoor Town following their FA Trophy exit.

Rocks were humbled 5-2 by the National League North team in Tuesday night’s replay, despite having a man advantage for almost 40 minutes.

And Coventry has called into question his players’ attitude, with the exception of Lee Burns, following their third round exit.

He said: “I don’t think a large majority believed we could win. We started well but after that I didn’t see much of us. I thought they were very good despite our terrible performance and they are not the sort of team you want to play when you are struggling.

“They have travelled 300 miles here but they were so much better. What they couldn’t do, we couldn’t capitalise on because we were so bad.

“We have had a reasonable season but I need to have a real good look at where we are going as the inconsistency is killing us.

“Is that down to personnel, formation or something else? I have to find an answer as we are so up and down. The squad’s mental approach is not right and they know they should have done better.

“Lee Burns had a lot to say at full-time and he is a credit to non-league football and this club. He is not used to playing with people that hide or show a lack of confidence. He was a shining light and others need to look at him.”

Rocks had led after four minutes thanks to Montel Agyemang’s free-kick, but Andrew Johnson’s header levelled matters on 35 minutes.

Glenn Taylor handed the Moors a half-time lead, with Kallum Griffiths extending that advantage.

Jamie Chandler’s red card and Lewis Smith’s penalty made it 3-2 before the superb Johnson completed his hat-trick with two neat strikes to send Spennymoor into the last eight.

East Thurrock United: Lidakevicius, Sammons, Harris, Burns, Clark, Phipps (Honesty 54’), C. Ekpiteta (White 54’), Cornhill, Richardson (Knott 75’), Smith, Agyemang