BOSS Mark Jermyn shouldered the blame for the Magpies’ “horrendous” 10-0 Challenge League Cup hammering at Salisbury on Tuesday night.

But the Avenue boss, who played in the double-figure thumping at the hands of the Whites, defended his team selection in which a number of his key figures were rested.

Just three players from the Dorchester starting XI kept their places from Sunday’s victory at Hayes & Yeading, including Jermyn, and, speaking to Echosport after the contest, he explained his reasons for the wholesale changes.

“Our focus this season is on the league and it always has been from the start of the season,” he said.

“We know we have got a tough season ahead of us and, on Tuesday, obviously there was a lot of different personnel that started from Sunday.

“The responsibility for the result 100 per cent lies with me.

“I will take all the flak that comes with it, but we had to change the personnel we had because we need to give people games and we have too much responsibility in the starting XI that played on Sunday.

“If two first-team players got injured or suspended on Tuesday, I just can’t carry them. I cannot have them missing for a number of games, we don’t have a big enough squad to do that. That’s why certain players were rested and kept off the pitch as long as possible.”

He added: “The scoreline is horrendous and, understandably, people are going to be upset by it. I totally understand it.

“The scoreline hurts me as much as anybody, the result is what it is but, from my point of view I am pleased we got everyone through the game without any real injuries.

“If I’d have done it again I wouldn’t have played our strongest side because I need to focus on the league and not the cup.

“Our goalkeeper still had a thigh injury from the weekend. Am I going to risk him? No I am not. Jake Smeeton, Nathan Walker and Chris Dillon all had knocks and injuries, there was no way in the world I was prepared to put them through that.”

Quizzed on what he said to those involved in the defeat, following the game, Jermyn said: “If anybody asks, blame the manager. I chose the team and the buck lies with me.

“When we win the players win, when we lose the manager loses, that’s the way I see it and that’s how it is with me.”

And asked what he would say to those critics of the Magpies’ display, Jermyn replied: “To people that are going to come out and criticise it, I would only ask them to think about what they would have done in my situation.

“Would they have risked having their keeper injured for the rest of the season? Would they want any of their players in a small squad to miss any big games at this time?

“I would defy anybody to say ‘yes I would have taken that chance’. I don’t see why you would risk it for a game like that.”