MICKEY Bell praised his Weston side’s ‘character’ as the Seagulls bounced back from a demoralising 5-0 home drubbing by Gosport Borough on Saturday to take all the points against much-fancied Staines Town just two days later.

Weston managed just two shots on goal as they were found wanting against Alex Price’s Gosport Borough, who had scored just twice in their opening three games, and were dealt a double-blow with the loss of Sam Teale to a long-term leg injury.

With a breakdown to the club coach, a delayed kick-off and just a 20-minute warm up at Staines Town on Monday things were looking bleak - but the Seagulls put in a sterling performance as on-loan striker Jamie Lucas’s strike was enough to seal a battling 1-0 victory, with only home goalkeeper Jack Turner denying Weston a bigger win.

Bell paid tribute to the efforts of his players to turn around a nightmare weekend and get back to winning ways against the odds.

He said: “The players showed amazing character, with the coach breaking down and such fractured preparation. It would be easy to go out there and dwell on everything but they showed us all what they’re capable of when they work hard and listen to what we’re asking.

“Saturday was a really poor day at the office, losing Sam Teale in the first half was a big blow and Clayton Fortune was also playing with an abscess which he went to hospital for on Saturday night, but the performance wasn’t anywhere near what we have been like and there were a few harsh words.”

Weston are back at the Woodspring Stadium again on Saturday for the visit of 10th-placed Hayes and Yeading, and still looking to pick up their first home points of the season, having won two of their four games on the road.

Bell said: “There’s a bit less pressure on the team to get a result away from home which might have an effect. We are young, we are inexperienced and still getting to know each other, and starting to realise what is required to get results at this level.

“We’ve spoken about the style that we play and the work rate the players showed on Monday was fantastic, that’s what we want to see in every game and if they do all the ugly things right and fight for each other they know they can keep getting the results.”

Weston are still looking to make ‘one or two’ signings, the manager confirmed, with a striker and a defensive midfielder the priority.

He said: “At the moment we are running with a squad of 16 when everyone is fit. We need more in the squad and that’s not to be disrespectful to anyone who is here.

“With our current defensive situation we need a defensive midfielder, preferably one who can drop in at centre half. We have got people in mind and it’s just a case of whether we can get them in.

“We also need another forward, Jamie Lucas has been fantastic but he needs some support up there, and we could do with another number nine who can make an impact from the bench or feature in a front two.”