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 have themselves 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.

“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.

“Because of the profile the club’s had over the years, I know a lot of people would love to see us fall flat on our faces, but we’ll pull together and any changes we make will be done for the good of the club.

“All junior clubs in the area can look on in glee after Saturday’s result, but our time will come again!”