Armstrong has six goals for Gateshead this season

Gateshead's Graeme Armstrong has blamed conceding two goals in three minutes just before half time for his side's 5-2 FA Cup defeat at Brentford.

The striker pulled one back in the first round replay on Tuesday, but three more home goals effectively ended the tie before Armstrong's late second.

Armstrong told BBC Newcastle: "It's a horrible time to concede. Poor concentration levels were our downfall.

"We started the game so well, then we self destructed.

Ian Bogie's side have conceded twelve goals in their last three games, including five in each of their last two outings.

And, with Gateshead lying 20th in the Blue Square Premier, Armstrong admitted that his side must improve defensively if they are to climb the table.

"Not just against League One opposition, but against Conference opposition we can't keep on giving goals away the way we did," said the former Dunston Federation man.

"We're losing games in five-minute periods where we relax and lose our concentration.

"It's difficult to keep coming back from those."

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