Harry Wheeler has backed David Noble and Jon Meakes to bounce back after struggling St Albans City were beaten 2-0 at home by Chippenham Town on Saturday.

The Saints director of football took charge for the game – and is set to remain at the helm for tonight’s trip to Aveley – after the club confirmed assistant boss Meakes had followed Noble out of the Clarence Park exit.

Describing their departures as a “real shame”, Wheeler said: “[They’re] two great football people, two great people as well. They live and breath the game and have got a lot to offer.

“Jon’s a very reliable staff member to be around, he’s someone you want within a club and Dave is an exceptionally good football coach. He’s got really good ideas, really good thought processes. They’ll be fine, they’ll come back up.

“It’s a real shame, we really tried to make it work. I go away in my role and I hope they felt fully supported and we tried everything to not get the outcome that we’ve got now, but I have no doubt that in time after they reflect, they’ll bounce back.

“I wish them all the best and hopefully they push on and can be successful somewhere else.”

The Bluebirds started Saturday's National League South clash the better and went close to making the early breakthrough when Owen Evans clipped the bar with a looping header.

Saints began to settle down after Wheeler had adjusted their shape, only to suffer a blow when Dom Hutchinson was forced off with a knee injury.

However, the hosts thought they’re taken the lead soon after when Jack James finished emphatically on the volley, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

The first half looked set to finish goalless until just before the break when Harry Parsons capitalised on a mix-up in the home side’s defence to score following a delivery to the back post from Leone Gravata.

The two Chippenham players combined again to double their side’s lead just after the hour; Gravata showing great skill to get through the defence before passing to Parsons who fired into the top corner.

St Albans’ best chances of getting back into the game fell to Shaun Jeffers. First, he was unable to convert a goalmouth scramble after Ken Charles had headed down a Josh Castiglione corner at the back post, and then Jeffers’ shot from a sharp angle was kept out by the Bluebirds keeper.

“We got the shape wrong and for the first 15 minutes we adapted it and then we were probably on top for the last bit of the first half,” Wheeler admitted.

“We discussed it half-time, we came out for the second half and we looked good but the goal is criminal and it is something that is not acceptable at this level.”