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Craig Fagan says the absence of manager George Elokobi had no bearing on Maidstone’s defeat at Weston.
The Stones lost 3-0 to their National League South play-off rivals with boss Elokobi back home recovering after being taken unwell on Monday.
Assistant boss Fagan and head of recruitment Zach Foster-Crouch led the team as Sam Pearson’s early opener was followed by late goals from Luke Coulson and Pedro Borges.
United made the long journey to Somerset in good shape, having won their past three games, and making just one enforced change with Tayt Trusty replacing injured midfielder Bivesh Gurung.
But it Weston’s day and they are now just a point behind Maidstone, who occupy the final play-off spot.
“Everyone will make a big thing of the gaffer not being here but we worked the same this week,” said Fagan.
“We were in continuous conversation, we did exactly the same week as we’d normally do. No different.
“The team picked itself because of the previous week and the performance.
“We said before the game, the players said it, even if I wasn’t here and the gaffer wasn’t here, it’s a game of football, they shouldn’t need a manager or assistant manager organising them.
“We go through the details all week, it’s just the fact of desire, they had more than us today.”
Maidstone, trailing to Pearson’s sixth-minute tap-in, had midfielder Jordan Higgs sent off just before half-time.
He was dismissed for denying a goalscoring opportunity after pulling back Pearson although Maidstone appeared to have a covering defender in George Fowler.
“I think Fowler maybe could have covered,” said Fagan.
“I wasn’t sure it was a red myself. I thought it was pretty harsh.
“Yes, if it was us, we would have appealed for it but I’m not sure myself. I’d have to see it again.
“Seeing it at the time, I assumed it was going to be a yellow.”
Maidstone played better in the second half, despite losing Higgs, but were picked off with goals at the death from Coulson and substitute Borges.
The damage was done in the first half, however.
“We didn’t get started, I’ll be honest,” said Fagan.
“It wasn’t the performance we were showing in training all week and in the last two games, so the players know.
“They’ve already said it themselves. I didn’t have to say too much if I’m honest.
“Yes, it’s a long trip but we should be more competitive.
“The sending-off helps them but what I will say is, second half, they were camped in their half apart from counter-attacks.
“I thought we played better second half, more competitive.”
Fagan felt Maidstone struggled to adapt to a bobbly pitch against a Weston side who played the conditions effectively.
He added: “We said to the players it’s going to be a horrible game, we’re going to have to be competitive, we’re going to have to win a lot of second balls, it’s windy.
“Our mindset wasn’t as good as theirs. They were excellent in what they did. They knocked it forward, landed on the second balls, got crosses in the box, were aggressive in the 18-yard box, like I spoke about before the game.
“They did that better first half compared to us.”
