Manager Mickey Doyle took the blame after Lydd were thumped 5-1 at home by league strugglers Croydon.

Recent signing Tyrell Mitford scored a second-half consolation but it was a day to forget for the Lydders.

Doyle felt he got his tactics wrong against a resurgent away side who had Liam Giles back in charge for the first time.

Lydd have dropped to fifth in Southern Counties East Division 1 but are still only three points behind leaders Snodland.

“I take the blame,” said Doyle, who saw Kenny Pogue sent off in the last 10 minutes.

“I set us up wrong. They came down with a new team and we got caught on the hop.

“We couldn’t adapt. I should have been more ruthless and changed things quicker but I can be a bit stubborn.

“Sometimes, the way I see things, if Plan A isn’t working I don’t go to Plan B. I want to see if we can do Plan A better.”

Preparations were hit when Lydd, missing first-choice keeper Joe Coleman through a shoulder injury, saw replacement Tom Barnes called in to work.

They borrowed Ashford under-18s keeper Connor Towens, who was left exposed as Croydon ran riot.

Doyle said: “A big thank-you to Tommy Warrilow at Ashford for helping us out.

“It wasn’t ideal being without a goalkeeper on Friday afternoon but I can’t blame Connor, it wasn’t his fault we lost.

“He’s a 17-year-old coming in playing against men and we didn’t protect him enough.”

Lydd added an extra training session on Tuesday in a bid to iron things out in time for this Saturday’s (3pm) home game against Staplehurst.

“We need to get back to doing what we’re good at,” said Doyle.

“We had that big defeat against Snodland (8-0 at home early last month) and I think it’s still lingering.

“Performances haven’t been great lately and we’ve got to turn it around as quickly as possible.”