ANTHONY Sheehan conceded that Witton Albion cannot continue to defend as disastrously as they are after a second successive five-goal reverse at Belper on Saturday.

His side has shipped 16 goals during four defeats since he replaced Brian Pritchard as manager, tumbling a dozen places in the Premier Division table.

The Nailers, without a boss themselves following Peter Duffield’s resignation last weekend, had failed to beat anybody before yesterday’s game.

“The goals we’re letting in are a disaster,” admitted Sheehan.

“It’s not good enough.

“There’s a limit to what I can do from the sideline. I can shout instructions and encourage, but players have to accept some responsibility for what happens on the pitch.

“I asked us to defend from a deeper position, to let Belper have possession at the back and try to hit them on the break after winning the ball back. I wanted us to be harder to score against.

“Then we’re 4-0 down after half an hour.

“The lads apologised to me after the game, but it feels too late after you’ve just been beaten 5-0.

“I felt low after losing to Trafford last weekend, but this is much, much worse.”

Rob Stevenson and stand-in manager Jon Froggatt bagged a brace apiece as back-markers Belper scored four times before the break, including three in as many minutes.

Substitute Bruno Holden added a fifth in the closing stages of a second half Albion had dominated.

Sheehan said: “I asked them at half time to go out on the front foot and score the game’s next goal. They did everything but.

“We’ve had probably 20 shots at goal in the game and still not found the net.”

Frickley, victors in two of their past three league matches, visit Wincham Park on Tuesday, kick off 7.45pm.

Sheehan told the Guardian he will spend the time between now and then reflecting on what to do next.

“The players are low in confidence and feeling sorry for themselves,” he added.

“Things have to change quickly, I know that.

“What’s the saying? You’re mad if you keep doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different outcome.

“The first change I want to see is a bit of fight, a bit of heart.

“I’ll be asking questions of myself too, because I take my share of the responsibility for these results.”

To read a report on yesterday's match, click here: http://bit.ly/1mD7A1Z