Blues Online

[Terryg999]

OK we lost to a team that on paper we really should have beaten, it was entirely due to bad defending and an inability to put the ball into the net that cannot be denied. Some will point at bad team selection, bad tactics and bad substitutions or lack of them from the Management and they are entitled to their views and opinions, at the end of the day the buck stops with the Management, we're under no illusions we should have won this one and are striving as hard as possible to put things right - supporters can at least be assured of that.

Don't need to make excuses for Management or the team but it is hard to know what further bad luck can befall us this season, we are not a dirty team and it seems inconceivable we have played so long in so many games with only ten men, cynics might say we should be getting used to it. Fully expect the ball to hit a Barking beach ball and ricochet past Clarkey on Saturday the way things are going. Saturday certainly not entirely down to bad luck, we did contribute towards our own downfall. Clarkey's dismissal was harsh but probably the right decision, our 'offside' goals looked closely run things but the Ref relies on guidance from the lino so certainly no blame for the man in charge.

What we do have to do is take a hard look at ourselves, the performance wasn't embarrassing as some have suggested but we did fall down on major counts. Failed to close the game out when in the ascendency, failed to defend our hard won lead, and overall gave the opposition too much space behind our back four all afternoon. I know supporters were disappointed with the result and I understand why, but read between the deficiencies and there was a half decent display underneath, particularly when down to ten men for such a long period. Did at least take the game to Clapton and if Pyney's free kick goes in the tone would be very different from all concerned.

No easy games in this league and local bragging rights up for grabs on Saturday, Manor hitting form of late so big response from this setback needed, feel sure the lad's have got it in them.

All the best
Neil