MANAGER Steve Burr gave an honest assessment of his team's performance after they were shot down 3-1 at home by Mansfield on Saturday.

The Aggborough outfit had went ahead thanks to Tom Shaw's penalty before goals for Luke Medley, Paul Connor and Rob Duffy ensured their defeat in the second half.

Burr admitted that Harriers were second best.

He said: "My assessment was that we were second best.

"I thought in the first half we got off to a great start, we managed to hang onto the lead by half-time but we lost Callum Gittings to an injury and had to change things around.

"In the second half Mansfield were a better side and deserved to win.

"It is early days yet. The squad of players we've got has to play at a maximum to compete so whether we can get that out of them week-in, week-out remains to be seen.

"In patches we played some really good stuff, but it's sustaining it that's the problem."

Saturday's game was the third in a row that they had taken an early lead and the manager demanded his players cope with the pressure of going ahead.

He added: "It's dealing with going in front, the players have to be strong.

"Mansfield were getting on top end of the first half and they had a couple of free headers which we were disappointed in.

"You've got to deal with being in front, that's part and parcel of the game.

"But the lads are very disappointed, as the game went on I felt we were just chasing.

"We've got to learn fast and we've got to stand up teams like Mansfield."

Harriers will be aiming to bounce back in the Blue Square Premier when they go to Wrexham on Tuesday night (7.45pm kick-off).

Winger Callum Gittings is a doubt after being substituted at half-time with a shin injury.

Striker Marc Williams, who came closest to scoring for Harriers in the second half, will not be allowed to play against the Dragons as part of his loan-deal to Harriers.