There was a stark message for the St Albans City players from manager David Noble - your shirts are up for grabs.

Saints made it 10 National League South games without a win as they lost 4-3 at home to Salisbury.

It leaves them six points from safety and after an early exit from the FA Cup as well, at the hands of a team two divisions below Saints, enough is enough for the boss.

"There are shirts up for grabs in this first team," he said bluntly.

"We have tried as much as we could, we haven't had many people to pick from over the last few weeks. We have had a bare 11 or 12 players

"That's no disrespect to the U23s but it is a difficult time for them to come in and affect a game when we are performing the way we are.

"You have to look at the senior players, they have had the opportunities over the last 10 games  and we [still] can't get the result.

"It's time for someone to grab the shirt but nobody's done that."

City found themselves 3-0 down at half-time and conceded a fourth before mounting a late fightback.

And he believes there are some on contract at Clarence Park that should look at the way two loan players performed - Makise Evans and Philip Chinedu.

"It's difficult when you concede four goals to say anybody impressed," he said.

"Makise did well, Phil did well and these are 17, 18-year-old boys but the fight and desire they are showing for the club is outstanding.

"They are not St Albans players but you would not tell from the way they perform for the badge that's on their chest.

"Some of out players need to have a look at the example that these kids are showing."

Evans has just signed on loan from Stevenage and made his debut off the bench at half-time, scoring the first to stir a comeback.

"You seen his energy," said Noble. "He wanted to affect it, he scored and did not stop running.

"He was a handful."

As for the rest of the game though, the analysis was damning.

The boss said: "The manner of the goals is worrying and going in at half-time 3-0 down, people have come back, it has happened before,but only a very few times.

"To compound it we go 4-0 down with another goal that is not good enough.

"It was nice to see a bit of spirit from the boys and three goals but ultimately, the damage was done.

"It was just the basics of making sure we get ourselves right when we are attacking.

"The first goal is from a goal-kick where we get caught square, we can't read people's body shapes but we still have two or three touches or chances to clear it before it drops to him.

"The second is straight through the middle, which we had a game plan for, to be solid when in possession.

"The third is a set-piece and the fourth is a schoolboy goal."