WORCESTER City manager Richard Dryden admitted his team were completely outclassed by Eastleigh.

The City boss thought his players were second best throughout against Ian Baird’s men as they suffered their first defeat in four Blue Square South matches to drop to 18th in the table, just two points above the relegation places.

However, he is not about to push the panic button after seeing his team improve dramatically in recent weeks and defeat Weston-super-Mare 4-1 in their previous match.

“We were totally out-battled and out-played and what they did, they did better than us. We knew they were going to be a threat at set plays, as we would be, and they were on the front foot all game,” Dryden said.

“The only passage of play we really had was when we scored and then 10 minutes after that when maybe we could have scored again.

“It would have been unjust but we would have taken it but at 4-1 the game was over and it was damage limitation. We didn’t play great and they played really well.

“At 2-1 down I told the players to have a go and try and get back in the game and go down fighting.

“We had a go but we were huffing and puffing and we didn’t play well.

“Four didn’t even flatter Eastleigh and I thought they were a lot better than us on the day.

“At the moment, I think we have got a decent squad but the disappointing thing is we have played well for five or six games and now we have dipped in form.

“But, all in all, if we play well in six and poorly in one I will take it.”

On-loan striker Marvin Brown marked his debut with a goal to equalise in the 26th-minute but ultimately ended up on the losing side in Hampshire.

Dryden said: “We didn’t create anywhere near as much as we have done lately.

“We only had three chances in the match, which isn’t good enough.

“Our form has dipped but we had three chances and we took one.

“It was a great first touch from Marvin and a good finish — that’s probably what we have been missing.

“We have got to get balls into him and Marc McGregor with decent crosses and, if do that, hopefully we can progress up the table.”