No shame in defeat for Matthew Blair

Winger Matthew Blair believes Kidderminster Harriers can hold their heads high despite falling to defeat at Blue Square Premier league leaders Crawley.

Saturday's 2-0 loss at the Broadfield Stadium made it two blanks in a week for Harriers, while their hosts went three points clear at the top of the table.

Crawley manager Steve Evans boldly proclaimed after the game that his side could have been seven up at half-time, comments that only irked Aggborough boss Steve Burr further.

Evans had already been sent to the stands for a wildly over-the-top celebration of the second goal that saw him encroach into the opposition technical area - an incident that Burr refused to comment on after the game.

And Blair, making his first start for the club, believes it was not Harriers who had anything to be ashamed of after the game.

He said: "The lads worked really hard, we all did. Crawley probably deserved the win but we battled hard and can take full credit from the game.

"We came with our heads held high and we left with our heads held high."

Blair got 61 minutes under his belt in his first start since signing from AFC Telford in the summer and is hoping to have done enough to keep his place for tomorrow night's home game against Gateshead.

He said: "Hopefully I've done enough for the gaffer to say 'go again' so I can give a little bit more.

"I know I am capable of playing the full 90 minutes and running at left-backs, right-backs and whoever."