“BLAME me” was the message from Weymouth boss Bobby Wilkinson after an “unacceptable” 5-2 thumping by relegation rivals Hungerford Town at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

With both teams fighting for National League South survival, Wilkinson had labelled this game as a must-win prior to kick-off.

However, there was only one team in it as Hungerford leapt from bottom to 22nd, pushing Weymouth down to 23rd.

Hungerford’s Ryan Jones and Jake Evans both scored from six yards in the opening 20 minutes but Weymouth did draw level as Ahkeem Rose scored twice at the back post in the second half.

READ MORE: Weymouth 2-5 Hungerford Town - report

Weymouth were pushing for a winner when David Sesay suffered an injury and the Terras did not regroup, with skipper Tom Bearwish filling in for Sesay from central midfield.

Hungerford’s third came when Jones skipped past Bearwish and finished before horrific defending led to Town’s fourth, sub George Smith poking in two yards out.

Brendan Willson’s petulant foul on Joe Boachie earned him a straight red and the Hungerford forward rubbed salt in the wounds with a wonderful curling fifth to spark loud boos at the final whistle.

Facing up to media post-match, a visibly hurting Wilkinson took full responsibility for the result.

“I’ll take it on the chin, I’m the manager of the football club, no problems,” he told Echosport.

“It was a very poor start, the manner of goals wasn’t good enough. Who would’ve thought we would’ve been 2-0 down after Saturday?

“That’s how it’s been going. We turn up and if we’re good, we’re good. If we’re bad, we’re bad.

“First 20 minutes we were bad and we have to take full responsibility as a group for that.”

Wilkinson thrust Dorking loanee Archie Procter in for his debut at the expense of Nathan Carlyle, who was nursing a leg injury.

Quizzed on whether the defensive change had unsettled his team, Wilkinson said: “We were forced into it.

“He said he could play but we have to think long-term. I’ve got a fantastic centre-half who’s come in.

“All that’s just excuses, I’m not interested in any of them. We got beaten because we weren’t good enough.”

Weymouth had conceded only three goals in the previous six games, Wilkinson admitting the defensive lapse was a big surprise.

He said: “That’s why we have to take full responsibility. None of us have seen it coming.

“I’m going to take a lot of stick, that’s football. I’ve got broad shoulders, I’ll accept it.

“If people want to blame me, blame me if that makes them feel good. But, the manner of the goals? Jesus Christ.”

Weymouth have now lost at home to fellow relegation candidates Concord, Chippenham and Hungerford, also failing to beat Cheshunt.

Asked whether Weymouth had a mentality problem in games against struggling teams, Wilkinson said: “Yeah, because we don’t beat any teams around us.

“How can you be so brilliant at keeping clean sheet after clean sheet and then concede five?”

Wilkinson felt Sesay’s pivotal injury was symptomatic of Weymouth’s season.

“That’s the rub of the green,” he conceded. “I make no excuses. I’ve had so many injuries all season.

“I can just reflect. I came here with only two points. Even if we got seven points in those ten games, we’d be out (of the drop zone) now.

“I’m fighting a losing battle from day one but I love the challenge. It’s just the manner.

“We let the fans down as players, as staff. I just take full responsibility. I’d rather people go for me than my players.”