Ian Evatt reckons Wanderers must take “collective responsibility” for two disappointing defeats on the road.

Tuesday’s no-show at Cheltenham Town was followed up by another sub-standard display at Forest Green, with both games ending 1-0.

Reflecting on issues at both ends of the pitch at the New Lawn on Saturday, Evatt said nobody emerged blameless from a difficult week.

“If we look back at the (FGR) game I think they more or less entered our box twice and we’ve managed to lose,” he said.

“The amount of chances we created in the second half, the score should never be nil, but the centre forwards can argue that the score should be nil the other end and I think we’ve had the opportunity for a clean sheet.

“I think we’ve still got the best defensive record so it’s not like we’re conceding goals or chances, to be honest. But there was that lapse of concentration on Tuesday and there was a lapse of concentration today.

“We have to take responsibility because it is a team game. We have to take collective responsibility for scoring goals the other end as well and I don’t think the last two games we’ve covered ourselves in glory on that aspect.”

Evatt explained the rationale behind substituting George Johnston for another defender, Jack Iredale, at the half time break.

“It was a tactical change. I just felt that where the space was today was with our wide centre backs becoming higher and almost left wing-backs at times because our wing-backs were able to play so high on the last line.

“We needed someone that was comfortable playing and stepping forwards in those areas and Jack’s done that a lot so it was more of a tactical change and I think it worked second half to be honest. We had lots of play, lots of good positions, lots or opportunities and we just didn’t take one.”

Evatt also revealed that Kyle Dempsey had been excluded from the squad after failing to recover from a knock he sustained at Cheltenham, and that Amadou Bakayoko was also rested.

“Kyle hurt his hip on Tuesday in the game so he was out,” the manager explained. “Amadou just needs a break really. He’s physically tired from his travels to Sierra Leone and Africa, so we’ve got a strong squad and we can utilise it.

“I don’t think there’s any need for knee-jerk reactions here. We’ve lost two games 1-0, you are allowed to lose games. Today was slightly different to Tuesday, I was upset with the manner of Tuesday, I’m upset with the first half today but second half, I think everybody here knows we didn’t deserve to lose the game but sometimes football has a nasty habit of biting you on the backside.”