WORCESTER City manager Richard Dryden has hit out at the Jekyll and Hyde nature of his side following the 2-0 defeat at Thurrock.

City looked to have picked themselves up with victory at Hampton and Richmond last week but were unable to produce a repeat performance at Ship Lane.

To make matters worse, the St George's Lane outfit have now failed to score in four of their last five games and have dropped to 10th place in Blue Square South and it’s a situation that has started to irritate boss Dryden, particularly given the faith he has shown in the team.

He said: “I was disappointed because I thought I had got the blend right the week before at Hampton and Richmond and almost bullied them to get a win.

“Then we get a first-half like Saturday where people were going through the motions. People were not closing down and I feel a bit let down because I kept faith in the side.

“What is different from last week? Our consistency is really poor at the moment. It was woeful defending for the two goals so this week we will have two training sessions and work out how to defend.

“I am disappointed with the commitment and work-rate, we were not switched on and pound for pound we should have won the game.

“I wanted to win at Thurrock but they worked harder than us.”

Dryden added: “We started well and could have been two up in the first five minutes. Then we totally switched off and let things happen.

“People in our league know how to defend and if they switch off like that they will not be playing very often.

“We haven’t kept a clean sheet for ages. It really bugs me because you give people a second chance and I thought we were awful.”

He continued: “We were huffing and puffing and we created enough to get something out of the game in the second-half. We dominated the game for the last 40 minutes, when players started pulling their fingers out, but you have got to get a goal.”

Dryden read the riot act to his players on the pitch at the end of the game and even asked them on the coach home to anonymously submit what they thought was City's best line-up.

“I am certain the squad is good enough,” the manager said. “I gave everyone a piece of paper and told them to write down what they thought was our best side. It was quite enlightening what people thought of certain players.”

Dave Bampton and Matt Dodd were introduced as second-half substitutes but they were not able to undo the damage done by Che Stadhart and Leon McKenzie.

Dryden added: “Matt Dodd was a breath of fresh air and if he can replicate that he can stay in the side. But I am not getting that out of everyone.”

Meanwhile, Troy Wood has been loaned to tenants Eves-ham United for a month.