CALUM MCINTYRE admits questions need to be asked around a disappointing National League North spell.

Back-to-back defeats to Buxton and Curzon Ashton lead Chester into Saturday's home encounter against Hereford. Then, on Tuesday, the Blues will head to Darlington

The losses have seen the Blues slip outside the play-off positions and the latest of these was a 4-0 thrashing at Curzon Ashton.

Manager McIntyre told Chester FC TV: "Individual mistakes have really hurt us this week. We need to look at why those are happening.

"The question needs to be asked whether those mistakes are happening because of who the manager of the football club is.

"The questions then need to be asked, is it about the quality of our players?

"Is it about the way they're applying themselves? Is it about all of the above?

"I'm a big boy. I expect them questions to be answered and I won't duck one and I won't hide from one.

"I love this football club. I've grown up at this football club.

"Three seasons is a long time to manage at this level at the same club... and I believe in the group of players and where it can go.

"But, questions will be being asked, quite rightly should be asked, about what's been a very, very disappointing week, compounding what is certainly my poorest result in my time here.

"What I'd say is back the players, keep backing the players and I certainly believe in them that results like today won't be the norm, if we can just turn that corner around those individual performances."

McIntyre apologised to supporters after Chester were thrashed 4-0 at Curzon Ashton.

Much of the damage was caused in the first half with the Blues three goals down and the result completed a poor week for Chester, who were beaten 1-0 at home to Buxton in midweek.

McIntyre said: "It needs to be an absolute heartfelt, sincere apology to our supporters, because they expect and we need more than that in terms of a result and a performance, and I mean that."

Devon Matthews headed Curzon Ashton into the lead inside 90 seconds and things soon got worse for the Blues when Michael Afuye punished an error to make it 2-0.

Tom Peers' foul on Stefan Mols resulted in a penalty award and this was duly tucked away by Mols for goal number three.

Charlie Caton's strike from 25 yards that went just wide was the bright spot of Chester's gloomy first half showing and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts grabbed the fourth after the break.

Efforts from James Spencer and Luis Lacey were saved by Elyh Harrison as the home side sought further goals.

McIntyre added: "We took a big following here and this has been, in recent years - the last two years - a happy hunting ground and it comes with a real opportunity to build momentum and we let ourselves down, first and foremost, and that is a real genuine apology.

"As for the game, horrific errors have decided the result and then a really poor reaction to those errors and the atmosphere that creates on the pitch.

"So, we concede the first goal and I've never made a habit of criticising players publicly.

"I'll take responsibility for our players' mistakes, because that's what you have to do if you're the manager."