STRAIGHT-talking Kidderminster Harriers boss Ian Britton admitted Rushden and Diamonds deserved to progress in the FA Cup on Tuesday night.

Britton was angered by yet another half-time deficit and is demanding his players shake off the growing problem of falling behind in games.

He fumed: "We started really well and put them under pressure for 25 minutes but when they got the goal, we started to drop off and went backwards instead of forwards.

"At 1-0, I thought we were still in with a chance but yet again we've conceded a sloppy goal.

"Their first goal was a good header but bad from our point of view. And the second was poor marking on our behalf.

"Some people will say we were unlucky but I don't think we were. We have huffed and puffed but haven't done anything."

Drewe Broughton's early miss was indicative of the whole evening for Harriers, according to Britton.

He reflected: "That miss summed it all up really. Drewe could have brought the ball down and rolled it into the net.

"Instead, he hit the ball first time and struck it over the bar. It was a great chance.

"Rushden did enough to win the match in the end and it was a fair result.

"It's like cricket where if you don't catch the ball you don't get people out. In football, if you don't take your chances you do not win games."

But Britton is especially concerned about his team's inability to push forward and instead go backwards in key situations.

He added: "That gives us problems and goes from the keeper to the back three and everybody.

"It opens the game up and puts the onus on the opposition to attack us."