EASTLEIGH manager Richard Hill described their 3-1 defeat to Newport County on Tuesday night as a "punch in the nose."

The defeat prevented the Spitfires from setting up a home fourth round FA Cup tie with Manchester United.

A trio of goals from Aaron Wildig, James Clarke and Will Evans helped the Welsh side past Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium.

Speaking after the game, Hill, 60, outlined that his side need switch their attention to the league after a disappointing defeat.  

He said: “We will see how we go in the next few weeks.

“We need to back this up. We have the league now - we have to be better in the league.

“We need to put a nice run together of three or four games.

”But we have got to get over this. There are some disappointed lads in there tonight.

“I’ve got a chairman who wants to thank the players for getting us this far - I don’t feel in the same mood as the chairman.”

Asked how he can pick his players up after such a crushing defeat, Hill replied: “You tell me.

“We will see how they are on Thursday. I’m sure they won’t be upbeat and bubbly.

“This is disappointing. This is a right punch in the nose for them, and they’ve all got bloody noses in there.

“That is what they call the magic of the FA Cup I think.”