Tommy Warrilow is taking full responsibility for Ashford’s shock thumping at Three Bridges.

The Nuts & Bolts boss says all criticism should be directed at him after a 5-1 defeat which saw them fall 10 points behind Isthmian South East leaders Hastings.

Johan ter Horst get them back into the game after trailing 2-0 early in the second half but the visitors fell apart.

“I didn’t see it coming, we absolutely folded,” said Warrilow.

“I’m not going to start pointing any fingers because I’m the decision-maker, the buck stops with me and any criticism can come my way.

"It’s down to me to get the players back on track, I know they’re good enough to get us out of the league and I’ve got to put my arm round them, get their heads up and crack on.

"We’re making things hard for ourselves but we’ve still got a lot to play for.

"We’re in the play-offs, we’re not in an awful position, we just need to be positive, get back on the horse and show some character.

“I can only apologise to the fans who travelled and I hope they can count on one hand the number of times they’ve seen a performance like that from one of my sides.

“The fans have been brilliant and they’re right to have a moan-up.

“It’s not all pats on the back in football.

"This week there’s criticism and I’d rather it was aimed at me because I’m the manager and I’m big enough and ugly enough to take it.

"I still know what the job is, to get promoted, and we’re still very much focused on that.

“Can we win the league? Until it’s mathematically impossible I’ll always say yes and if you don’t feel that way, there’s no point being in management.

“If we don’t win it there’s still the play-offs and can we win the play-offs? One hundred per cent, we can.

“Whichever way we do it, our aim this season is to get out of the league and it’s still very much achievable.”

Fifth-placed Ashford host relegation-threatened Sevenoaks this Saturday, followed by a rearranged game at East Grinstead on Tuesday and Whitstable away next weekend.

They’re desperate to get the Three Bridges result out of their system as quickly as possible.

“It happens, it hurts but we’ve got a massive week coming up now with three games,” said Warrilow.

“The next three points is massive for us.

“We’re at a club where there’s expectation levels and we went below them on Saturday.

“In this league, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing, you can come unstuck.

"I didn’t see it coming but I’m not one to get involved in any blame culture, I will 100 per cent take the blame.

"Everyone’s allowed to have bad games or off-days, it’s how you deal with it and my sides have always rolled their sleeves up and had a go.

“It was a horrible day, a horrible weekend, but we’re still in a good position and now we need a reaction.”

Ashford hope to have new signing Jack Richards available after his debut was ended by a facial injury.

Tommie Fagg serves the second of a four-game suspension after being sent off for the third time this season, while Jay May and Tashi-Jay Kwayie should return.

Richards, the former Maidstone and Margate forward, has the talent to make a big impact at Homelands.

“He’s a good signing for us,” said Warrilow, who has seen Roberto Ratti accept an offer from league rivals Herne Bay.

“We just need to get him game time and back playing football because he is a very good player.

“He’s had a little bit of bad luck with knocks and niggles but he hasn’t got to prove anything here.”