CHRIS Todd saluted his side’s character after Andy Drury’s 92nd-minute strike earned Eastleigh a point from yesterday's contest at Boreham Wood.

The Spitfires boss admitted that his team struggled to get going four days after the exertions of their FA Cup tie at Bolton, with Jamie Lucas’s 43rd- minute effort giving the hosts a half-time advantage, writes Paul McNamara.

But, buoyed by some stirring words from their boss at the break, Eastleigh came out for the second-half with renewed vigour, seeing two valid penalty shouts turned down, before Drury prodded home from Lee Cook’s corner in stoppage time.

“It was a pleasing point in the end,” said Todd after the 1-1 draw.

“The character was outstanding in the second-half. They showed what they’re capable of.

“But you have to keep doing that, you can’t come off it. When we come off it we look ordinary, but when we’re on it we’re very good.

“We were on it in the second-half. There were a couple of penalty shouts that could have gone our way, but then we dug in deep and didn’t give up.”

Todd’s pre-match plans were disrupted when 11-goal forward James Constable pulled up with an injury in the warm-up.

The manager, who thrust Jack Midson into his starting line-up, is confident Constable won’t be out of action for long – but Todd confessed that he wasn’t prepared to take any risks with his star striker.

He said: “It’s a big blow to everybody. He’s a big player for us.

“It was more of a precaution than anything. We couldn’t afford to lose him for six or seven weeks. We have to have him up and running because he’s our main man.”

Rather than the setback with Constable, however, Todd believes that the Spitfires’ lacklustre first 45-minute display was largely down to their midweek efforts at the Macron Stadium.

He said: “I thought our foot was off the gas a little bit in the first-half. I had a chat with them at half-time and said that we needed to be more ruthless – and the boys did that.

“It is difficult after the way they played at a Championship side on Tuesday night, to then come here and pick yourselves up.

“But there are no excuses. We have to do that. I said that to them at half-time – and again at the end of the game.

“You have to be right every week otherwise you’ll be found out.”

Todd was particularly pleased with Kaid Mohamed’s contribution to Eastleigh’s fightback, with the winger following up his full-debut goal at Bolton by turning in another performance full of attacking intent.

“He’s a threat,” said Todd. “That’s why I brought him to the club. He adds something different for us, and he was unlucky not to score today.

“He worked extremely hard, he goes forward with pace and desire and he’s certainly been a good addition to the squad.

“That’s what I always say: If I bring anybody in, they have to add to what we’ve got and he’s doing that at the moment.”

With Constable and Yemi Odubade both forced to miss Saturday’s game, and forward Ross Lafayette sent to Aldershot on loan last week, Todd revealed that he expects at least one new face to arrive at the Silverlake in the coming days.

He said: “Something should happen by the end of this week – there is going to be one or two additions to the squad.

“I’m after a striker. I’m working tirelessly to do that. But it’s not as easy as you think - you have to make sure they’re the right person and the right character.”