JOHN Coventry insists he is not worried by East Thurrock United only keeping one clean sheet so far this season but concedes his side must stop conceding sloppy goals.

Rocks suffered a 2-1 Isthmian Premier League defeat to Margate despite leading thanks to Andy Pugh finding the back of the net on the stroke of half-time.

And, while he would welcome more than just the solitary shutout achieved against Bognor Regis Town last month, Coventry is only truly interested in bagging three points on a regular basis.

“We have only kept one clean sheet so far, but that’s not worrying if you score more than the other team,” said the East Thurrock chief.

“I don’t care about clean sheets. If we win 4-1 or 4-2, I’ll take the three points and not worry about failing to keep a clean sheet.

“But, at the same time, we have to stop conceding such cheap goals.

“We conceded two soft goals against Margate and we have got to deal with it better.

“Something isn’t right defensively but I’m not in a position to sort things out.

“It’s tough, but I can’t go out and get new players.”

Frankie Merrifield and Ben Marlow went close for Rocks before Pugh gave Rocks the lead at a wet Rookery Hill.

But second half goals from Noel Leighton and substitute Kudus Oyengua allowed Margate to turn the game on its head.

And Coventry felt East Thurrock were guilty of taking too many risks.

“I didn’t think we were very good and we gave the ball away so many times,” added Coventry, whose side went into the clash following a 1-1 draw at in-form Cray Wanderers.

“When you give it away in a situation where you’re so open because we’re expansive and want to get out, they break on you.

“Margate constantly did that and we never learnt our lesson.

“We were so poor with the ball. I want them to play and be expansive but sometimes you have to make a decision and realise it’s too risky to give it to someone so put the ball in behind.

“That turns them around but we kept trying to force balls into players and they were coming away with it and running at us.

“There were so many bad decisions and it was chalk and cheese between that and our good display at Cray.

“As a manager, you can’t get your head around that because we used the same players that played so well at Cray.”