DAVID Malone says Eastleigh won’t be conducting an inquest into Saturday’s 8-2 defeat by Thurrock because they are convinced it was a one-off.

The Spitfires themselves have racked up some sizeable victories this season – notably a 6-0 Boxing Day win at home to Basingstoke Town, who they pay a return visit to tonight (7.45). And although director of football Malone readily accepts that the woeful capitulation was a “shock”, he insisted: “It’s not the end of the world.

“We don’t go overboard when we’ve had an easy win and we don’t go overboard about one bad result.

“We beat Bromley 6-1 earlier in the season and that was a freak. It could just as easily have been 2-2.

“You can’t legislate for the fact that on one particular day five or six players have not turned up.

“But they’re honest enough lads and they know it’s not acceptable. I’d be amazed if there were anything like a repetition.

“If there were, then you’d expect heads to roll – and I’m not talking about the manager there.

“I don’t feel any need to defend Ian Baird. From the moment he walked through the door, we’ve had nothing but confidence in what he’s doing here.

“The manager is the manager and that will remain the situation."

Full story in today's Daily Echo