Striker Jon Stead said he and his team-mates should take responsibility for Town's continuing inconsistency prior to jetting off to Dublin for the players' Christmas party on Saturday evening.

The frontman said: "The manager and coaching staff are helping us but the players have to take responsibility.

"Once we cross the white line it's up to us to put in a performance. It's not the manager's fault we gave away two goals and we know that.”

Stead expected the squad to use the trip to talk about the current position: "We can clear the air and have discussions when we are away, but at the same time it can be a couple of days to forget about football and enjoy ourselves. Then we can come back refreshed and kick on again.

"We are all pretty down and although we should be away enjoying ourselves for a couple of days it will be hard because we lost. It might not be as lively as we thought it might be.”

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