Steve Watt believes Maidstone players were feeling sorry for themselves at Gateshead following Jay Saunders’ shock exit.

The Stones lost 1-0 at Gateshead on Saturday in their first game since Saunders left the club.

Caretaker boss Watt felt the team defended their box well but saw little else and an 88th-minute penalty settled the match.

He said: “I’m disappointed that we’ve given another goal away through mistakes.

“I’ve said to the players in there we have to stop finding ways to lose games of football.

“We weren’t great today by any stretch.

“We tried to strip things back for the players and make it a bit simpler without changing too much because we’ve not had a great deal of time to work on it.

“But I just felt today there were maybe a few players feeling a bit sorry for themselves in terms of what’s gone on this week because I saw a few performances I haven’t necessarily seen so far this season.

“I don’t know if what’s gone on this week has been factor.

“The players say it isn’t but I would question that because I think there’s players in there who are a lot better than what they showed today.”

Lee Worgan saved a first-half penalty from Scott Boden but the Heed man made the most of his second chance, denying the Stones a point.

Watt added: “I’ve no complaints with the two spot-kicks to be honest. I’m just disappointed in the manner the second one was conceded because I thought the game was done. It was going to be a 0-0.

“Barring corners and shots from distance, I can’t remember them cutting us open, without playing well.

“So you’re thinking it’s going to be a good point, a good building block for the week that’s coming up and then we go and make another error.”

Maidstone also finished a man down with Blair Turgott and Gateshead wing-back JJ O’Donnell dismissed for an-off-the-ball incident before the winning penalty.

The caretaker boss didn’t see what happened - he was preparing a substitution - but United lose their top scorer for three games.

Watt said: “I’ll speak to the referee and linesman and see what he’s done and we’ll take the necessary action.

“If it’s something that’s unjust, it’s unacceptable, particularly in the situation the club’s in where you can’t get sent off for those types of incidents because everyone’s needed now more than ever.”