INJURY-RAVAGED Eastleigh are concerned that the poor condition of their Silverlake Stadium pitch is undermining their push for the Blue Square South play-offs.

Not only did the Spitfires blame the stodgy, uneven playing surface for the 12th-minute goal that sealed Saturday's 1-0 defeat at home to St Albans City, there was also a suggestion that two of the three match-ending injuries they sustained were down to the pitch.

Striker Andy Forbes, who hobbled out of the ground on crutches with suspected medial ligament damage, claimed his boot had got stuck in the ground when he was hurt in a 50-50 tackle early in the second half.

And there was also a theory that the pitch was to blame for the knee injury picked up by Anthony Riviere - albeit that the midfielder was booked for a hefty challenge.

Even Billy Lumley, Eastleigh's newly-signed goalkeeper from the Glenn Hoddle Academy in Spain, felt the pitch was responsible for holding up defender Luke Wilkinson's headed back pass, allowing Drew Roberts to nip through and score the only goal of a scrappy game.

Skipper Tom Jordan was the first Eastleigh player to bow out of the action with a deep gash on his shin after being caught by Roberts.