Thurgood has returned to Grays on loan from Gillingham

Grays Athletic midfielder Stuart Thurgood believes the side will soon get back to winning ways.

The Blues have just four points from their opening five matches and lie 19th in the Blue Square Premier after their 1-0 home defeat by Eastbourne.

But the 26-year-old told BBC Essex: "The boys are great, everyone's confidence is up and so it should be.

"We played some good football and if we can play like that for the rest of the season we'll win more than we lose."

Thurgood was playing his second match for the Essex side since his return on loan from Gillingham, but missed a first-half penalty - their third of the season.

He said: "The boys have worked their socks off, we've had plenty of chances to win the game, but if you don't take them you don't win.

"I'm disappointed I missed a penalty, but it's good to play 90 minutes and I think the boys worked really hard and we deserved to win the game."