Maidstone United manager George Elokobi says the buck stops with him after disappointing 2-0 defeat at Aveley in National League South

George Elokobi took responsibility after Maidstone’s tame defeat at Aveley on Monday night.

Stones boss Elokobi said he’d be looking at himself first after their 2-0 loss.

Ex-Maidstone winger Razzaq Coleman De-Graft scored a wonder goal for the Millers early in the second half and Charlie Hughes added the second after Paul Appiah was sent off.

Appiah’s dismissal means he’s suspended for the Stones’ FA Cup fifth-round tie at Coventry next Monday.

Elokobi said: “Credit to Aveley - they wanted it more.

“They did the basics right, got themselves on the front foot, they had the desire, the commitment - everything we spoke about in the changing room before this game.

“We have to look at ourselves in the mirror and, as a manager, I start with myself.

“Did I pick the right team? Did I pick the right personnel? Have I been too loyal? I have to look at that.

“I’m an honest manager, the buck stops with me and I’m going to look at myself in the mirror first and make sure I review, analyse and then we go from there.”

It was Maidstone’s final league match before travelling to Coventry in the FA Cup.

The players’ minds may have been on that game - “We’re human, I can’t say for sure,” was Elokobi’s view - but there’s still plenty of work to do in the league.

Defeat saw United miss the chance to draw level on points with third-placed Chelmsford in National League South and strengthen their grip on a play-off spot.

“I have to ensure we have a discussion as a group because if we are to achieve anything in the league this season, we’ve got to come to places like this and be hard to beat,” said Elokobi.

“Yes, we’re going to lose games but it’s the manner of how we lost that’s a little bit of a worry to me as a manager.”

Coleman De-Graft’s