A PRIVATE ear bashing and a public admission that some of his players don't appear to want to slug it out at a higher level was Dave Busst's honest reaction to Monday's defeat at home to Grantham, writes Mervyn Collins.

The Evesham manager issued a stark warning to his squad and threatened changes if things don't improve.

The players will be given an early chance to salvage pride when Aylesbury visit Common Road on Saturday (3pm) and the make-up of the United side should make interesting reading prior to kick-off.

"I was disappointed with the way we performed," the United boss moaned. "We all know that it's going to be tough but they couldn't even do the basics.

"They couldn't pass a ball 20 yards, there was no fight, we created no clear-cut chances and some of them looked as though they just couldn't be bothered."

Busst lamented the lack of drive and effort that had been a feature of his side's play in defeat at Cheshunt two days earlier and wondered how that attitude and commitment could change so much in that short period of time.

"I wasn't watching the same team on Monday," Busst declared. "I'm not asking them to do things that they can't do but they've got to take a good look at themselves. The signs aren't good and that lack of desire is a worry. If there is anything better out there then I will go out and get them."

However, the Common Road chief admitted that "his hands are tied" when it comes to paying out money for new players, so he will be looking for his players to show the form that earned a win at Rugby and dominated Saturday's game in Hertfordshire.

Gavin O'Toole, Stuart Hamilton and Lee Knight will all be on the sidelines with nagging knocks but Steven Hands will be available for selection on his return from holiday.

Defensively, United look secure enough although Busst is worried about the defenders' inability to clear their lines and concession of needless free-kicks.

It's in attack and midfield where the main problems lie and Busst will again be forced to think long and hard about the make-up of his side.

"We've going to have to get our thinking caps on, we're already looking stale and we're only three weeks into the season," Busst admitted.

The Robins' manager admitted that he knows nothing about this weekend's visitors, who crashed to a shock first defeat of the season at Northwood on Tuesday, but he will be clued up before kick-off.

"I will be making a few phone calls but it's my players and our level of performance that I'm concerned about at the moment."

The game is being sponsored by the Danish Bacon Company, Petersfield, Hampshire and the ball by Jim Powell.