MARK Collier insisted it was Hemel Hempstead’s second goal and not Alan Griffin’s red card which ultimately saw his side slip to a 3-0 defeat.

The Bluebirds slipped a goal behind just before the break as Ben Mackey beat the offside trap to slot home, with things getting worse in the second-half as Jordan Parkes and Lewis Toomey secured the points.

Griffin was dismissed for picking up his second yellow after the break but Collier refused to lay the blame at his door given his side already found themselves two down.

“Then, it was a poor second goal. Forget the Griffin sending off - it’s the second goal that's killed the game,” he said.

“Then they could get a foothold on possession and that made it difficult.

“Griffin said that he didn’t think that his second booking was a foul but as soon as the lad’s made a fuss about it, that’s the way it goes.

“There’s no malice in Griff, who goes in to tackle fairly, but there’s nothing we can do about it now.

“Things are going against us at the minute but no-one’s going to feel sorry for us and we’ve just got to regroup and take stock in the week.

“I thought that Bryan (Smith) did well and so did the young lad Tyron Leigh, playing against strikers who have played levels higher.

“I thought James Guthrie was where we want him to be - working hard and going past people - in the second half.”

The visitors had the better of a lively opening period and could have taken the lead when Daniel Talbot’s shot was blocked, but they did soon have the advantage as Mackey beat the offside trap and fired the ball low past Ben John.

Despite the Bluebirds playing their way back into the contest the lead was doubled soon after the break when Jordan Parkes found time and space at the back post and was able to fire into the bottom corner.

Griffin, who was booked for a foul on Danny May in the opening period, was given his marching orders for a tackle on David King - although the Bluebirds striker felt hard done by.

The 10 men of Chippenham struggled on as Hemel took their foot off the gas but the hosts were punished again when striker Mackey was able to drive into the box before spreading the ball out wide to substitute Lewis Toomey, who drilled a low shot past John and into the bottom left-hand corner.