Adam Straith, the Canada defender, has criticised his side for being caught cold against Bermuda in their friendly match at the National Stadium at the weekend.

Canada found themselves trailing in the twelfth minute when Jalen Harvey, the Bermuda defender, finished from close range after a low, hard cross by winger Lejuan Simmons following an Osagi Bascome corner.

The visiting side rallied soon after and prevailed 4-2 against a young Bermuda team — which included seven debutants — although Straith, who plays for Norwegian side Fredrikstad, believes his side were guilty of a sloppy start.

“You can blame it on guys only being a week into their season,” Straith told Sportsnet.

“You can blame it on a bad start but it’s just not good enough.

“There are no excuses for a start like that. On the positive side, the goal was something that turned our minds on. After that we started to play but that’s something we want to avoid.”

Having conceded two first-half goals in quick succession from Toronto FC pair Jonathan Osorio and Tosaint Ricketts, Bermuda equalised after the break in comical fashion when Simmons capitalised on a mistake by substitute goalkeeper Sean Melvin who somehow allowed Straith’s back pass trickle past him.

Straith, 26, finished the game in goal although Michael Findlay, the interim Canada coach, revealed that Bermuda did suggest the visiting side put Callum Irving, who had already been substituted at half-time, back in goal.

“To be fair, Bermuda said we could put our goalkeeper back in but we said it was a Fifa match and we can’t do that,” Findlay said.

“We always target a couple of guys in case of emergencies, it’s very rare, and ultimately [Straith] put his hand up and said he was the most comfortable.”

With many of Canada’s bigger stars, such as Atiba Hutchinson, of Turkish side Besiktas, still with their respective clubs in Europe, Canada included ten players in their 18-man squad under the age of 24.

One of those newcomers Jay Chapman, the Toronto FC midfielder, scored on his debut with a header from a corner for his side’s third goal in the 75th minute. “It was good to make my debut and get a start with this new group of players,” Chapman said. “Anytime that I can get games in and try to get as many appearances as I can before the big games is huge. I’m thrilled.”