CHELTENHAM manager Mark Yates admitted his team were second best in their 3-0 FA Cup defeat to Saints.

The Robins were dumped out of the competition at the second round stage in a one-sided affair at St Mary’s yesterday.

And Yates was left to rue a sloppy start to each half that cost Cheltenham any chance of a foothold in the game.

“We got beaten by a very good team with some good players,” said the Robins boss.

“I thought we started both halves poorly and that cost us.

“I’m proud of the effort our players put in and proud of some of the stuff we played, but we weren’t quite as good as we have been lately.

“The first goal was a killer, because if we had come in at half-time 0-0 we would have had a chance.

“We started the second half poorly as well.

“We had a warning with the one that was disallowed, but instead of heeding it we found ourselves two down.

“After that I thought we had a real good go at them.”