SLOUGH Town joint-manager Jon Underwood admits that the Rebels were a shambles defensively in the 2-2 FA Cup draw with Bristol Manor Farm on Saturday.

The Rebels twice took the lead in the third qualifying round tie at Arbour Park with goals from strikers Matthew Stevens - his sixth in as many matches - and Chris Flood.

However, Southern League Division One South minnows Bristol forced a midweek replay at The Creek thanks to an Owen Howe brace, leaving Underwood hugely disappointed with the performance.

He told the Observer: "We have got the second best defensive record in the National League South, but that's now two games against lower-league opposition where we've conceded two goals and it could have been more.

"We were a shambles defensively at times and the warning signs were there in the first 20 minutes when they got in three times.

"People were just making basic errors that they wouldn't make against a Woking, Chelmsford or Billericay, so it's a mental thing. People were not on it mentally and it was the same against Sholing.

"It would we would learn our lesson from that game and in the replay we were right on it because of what happened in the original time.

"I thought we would be on it again on Saturday but if you're not mentally right then you will make mistakes.

"It didn't matter that Bristol are two leagues below us because they've some good players and made it difficult, but defensively we were really sloppy."

Underwood continued: "They had to do a lot more defending than we did in the first half, as you would expect.

"Maybe our first goal was a ittle bit lucky when a ricochet fell for Matthew but that was probably the reward for putting a lot of good balls into the box. If you keep on doing it then things will drop for you.

"We weren't delighted with how we played but we had done enough in the first half. We needed to be more professional and do the simple things well in the second half but I don't think we did.

"We were trying to be too clever at times and it comes down to the mental side of it. That's what let us down and not ability or hard work.

"If you're not at 100 per-cent mentally and a bit casual in your attitude, if you think you're just going to turn up and win a game, you come unstuck and that's what happened."

He added: "The second goal was laughable because there was no-one near the first ball when it was pumped into the box. It should have been easily dealt with but we didn't do it.

"It was a horrendous goal and it doesn't happen in the league at the moment because everyone is concentrating and fully on it.

"We thought we were just going to turn up and win the game because it was lower-league opposition and that's not acceptable.

"We could have scored four, five or six goals but we shouldn't have to. We should be able to come here and keep a clean sheet against a team two leagues lower than us.

"The biggest frustration is with us defensively and that's just not the back four and the keeper. The attitude in some other players as well wasn't where it needed to be."

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