DORCHESTER Town winger Tom Blair feels the criticism of his finishing in last Saturday’s 1-0 FA Cup first qualifying round defeat to AFC Portchester is “fair”.

With no fit recognised striker, Blair was played out of position and tasked to fulfil the forward’s role by interim manager Trevor Senior, missing a succession of chances as the Magpies crashed out of the competition.

In an honest assessment of his performance, teenager Blair told Echosport that taking a proportion of the blame for the defeat was “rightly deserved” but vowed to “move on” and improve.

He said: “Yes, I think it’s fair, there’s no beating around the bush. I had two very good chances and should have scored both of them. It cost us the game.

“I’ve taken the stick which I think is rightly deserved. I think we have just got to move on and not think about it.

“It’s a big position to take on. I’m still young but Trevor had faith in me to play in that position. Unfortunately I haven’t delivered but I think on another day I would have scored both chances.”

Despite the setback, Blair insists the Magpies will continue to “keep working” and believes his side can pick up six points from their next two games.

He said: “I’ve never played much as a striker. I should have scored the one-on-one. It’s just not good enough at the end of the day. I’ve got to stay focused and get the confidence.

“We’ve got to keep working and not look back. At the moment we’re not performing and we’ve got to work hard and give our all. We can get six points in our next two games if we play well.”

Blair, who won an appeal to have his red card against Weymouth rescinded, admitted he “wasn’t expecting to be sent off” after the officials deemed him to stamp on the Terras’ Ashley Wells.

He said: “I’m pleased. I wasn’t expecting that decision because it wasn’t a red card. I’m pleased it’s all done instead of worrying about it.

“From the way he grabbed my leg where the ref was standing it might have looked like I kicked him. I don’t really care now, it’s rescinded.

“I was just angry because it was straight after the second half started and I don’t think the game was over, we could have got something.”

And Blair, who has been coached by Senior throughout his formative years, lent his backing to the temporary boss for the permanent position.

He said: “He’d be a good manager for us. He’s got a lot of passion for the club which I think we need. We’ll see what happens over the next month.

“I get on well with him outside of the club and obviously he’s tried to give me a few tips having been a striker. I think he was disappointed that I didn’t tuck away those chances.

“He’s got good man management and all the lads respect him as well. We’ll be alright with Trevor at the moment, hopefully we’ll get three points for him.”

Elaborating on what advice Senior had given him as a frontman, Blair said the key message was to use his pace.

“He said to close everything down and to use my pace and get in behind the defence which I did try to do.

“I tried my best but it wasn’t to be. Hopefully if I get another chance I’ll deliver.”

With a current run of five losses in six games, Blair is confident that the Magpies can change their fortunes.

He said: “I think we’ve got the squad to do it, we’ve got good squad depth this season. Players can come off the bench and change the game.

“We will turn this around. We’ve got to stay positive and things will come our way.”