Sleaford Town boss calls for complete reset after tame FA Vase exit
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Dion Tansey-Potter put Sleaford ahead just before the break only for a great solo goal by Aidan Neal to level just after half-time for a 1-1 draw.
Birstall then missed their first penalty. But Sleaford missed all three spot kicks in a 3-0 shoot-out defeat and McGhee said: “Our penalties were terrible – but it summed up the day really. We definitely got what we deserved today.
“Probably the last three games we have been miles off anything we started the season as and we need to figure out why.
“We were poor. First half, everything we like to do in a game, Birstall allowed us but we refused to do it. It's really strange to see us not do what we're good at and play into their hands.
“We went long and we don't have the players to do that. The first time we played a string of passes we scored a goal.”
He continued: “It's really frustrating. I knew after 10 minutes it wasn't going to be. You could see the body language and the way the play was.
“We were poor in possession, things were bouncing off us and we were doing things with once touch which we never do.
“We need to go back to basics as standards have dropped.
“Last season we struggled as a bottom three or four side and I think what's happened is we've had a reasonable start to the season and the lads are thinking it's all right, but it's not as easy as that.
“We have to be mindful of complacency getting into the group which is something I will never stand for. The work ethic has to come back into the group.”
On Saturday Sleaford host Gedling MW in UCL Division One action.