REACTION - COX ON TRURO DEFEAT: "A Lack Of Quality - Not A Lack Of Endeavour"

STONES' boss Sam Cox didn't hide his frustration or disappointment when speaking to wealdstone-fc.com after his side fall 2-0 at bottom-of-the-table Truro City.

"It's certainly a wake-up call for us," said the Wealdstone manager, reflecting on a humbling defeat in Cornwall.

The hosts were full value for a big three Enterprise National League three points - with Cox instantly acknowledging Wealdstone had offered little to cheer the 50-odd hardy souls who'd made the long pilgrimage in support of the team.

"That was the most underwhelming performance we've given all season," he lamented.

"There was a lack of quality tonight - not a lack of endeavour. It's important to distinguish between the two."

In crediting John Askey's Tinners, he conceded: "Truro were deserving of their 2-0 victory. They looked hungrier and looked like the side that was threatening more in the penalty box.

"They won their individual duels; so when you don't match the opponent's energy then the National League is ruthless and you get punished.

"It doesn't matter where the other team is in the table or their form. If you don't do the basics you're going to be under threat."

For those unable to tune in via DAZN, the stats alone will tell the tale of a toothless display and a night when Stones just didn't look like converting into genuine goal threat a smaller helping of possession than they usually enjoy.

"Of course it's an opportunity missed tonight," said the Wealdstone manager, who was in the unusual position this season of struggling to find any positives from his squad's display.

"We had the chance to put some pressure on Southend and go just one point away from seventh place.

"It's raw right now, just after the game. It's up to everyone to reflect on tonight in a professional way and show the right kind of reaction on Sunday."

And if Wealdstone win on Sunday at FC Halifax Town, Cox argued it'll all look and feel different coming out of this weekend and into the trio of Christmas & New Year fixtures.

"In general, the boys have been good, so now we can't afford for the hard work we've put in to this point to be undone," Cox explained, ahead of a trip to West Yorkshire to face a team on the same number of points as the Stones - 31.

"We've got another tough game on Sunday at Halifax and we need a response. It's an ambitious group of guys in our dressing-room, and reminding ourselves what we want to achieve this season is going to help us deal with tonight and get back to our best.

"We've got to kick-start ourselves again across this next run of games, because we've set such high standards that we can't let them slip."