Chris Agutter was left frustrated after Sutton United slipped to a narrow defeat at Boston United, feeling the game lacked quality and attacking edge.
Boston came out the blocks quickest in the second half, with Tom Cursons dealing the decisive blow just two minutes after the restart, and proved to be the winner after a disappointing second half display.
“We just lacked punch. From an attacking perspective, we lacked a lot.”
“It was a nothing game really – very little between the two teams, small margins – but Boston probably shaded it because they carried a bit more attacking threat.”
“We turned the ball over consistently, and when you couple that with not being great out of possession — especially on transitions and second balls — it’s a recipe for a really disjointed, flat performance.”
“It just lacked anything. ‘Nothing’ is probably the word I’d use.”
The Head Coach felt the performance never quite found rhythm, particularly with and without the ball, and from an attacking standpoint, the issues were multi-layered rather than isolated, highlighting how those moments prevented Sutton from building any sustained threat.
“It was a combination of things. Initially, we didn’t keep the ball well enough, particularly in the opposition’s half.”
“Because we gave it away cheaply in high areas, we didn’t get runners from deep, which is a really important part of how we play.”
“We didn’t give ourselves time to get support.”
“When we went longer, we weren’t good enough on second balls either. If you’re not winning second balls, you turn possession over again, and then you can’t create overloads or carry any real threat.”
The message to the players after full time was direct but measured, but very much echoed the aforementioned, while changes throughout the second half brought the introductions of Davide Rodari, Dubem Eze and Brandon Njoku, aiming to spark attacking momentum.
“I don’t think there was a lack of effort at all. This group is incredibly honest — they work hard day in, day out and are desperate to succeed at this football club.”
“It wasn’t effort. It was being loose in possession and lacking bite. Similar to York, but without the good bits on the ball. That’s a horrible combination.”
“We were trying to shift the attacking momentum. We felt we needed to change the rhythm of the game.”
“We changed shape a couple of times and put more attacking options on the pitch to try and kick us into life.”
Boston, Agutter admitted, were sharper where it mattered, with Sutton’s problems continuing to resurface as the game wore on, and leads to a crucial encounter on Wednesday night with the U’s set to host a Braintree Town side who sit just one place below them.
“It’s difficult to build momentum when you keep giving the ball away cheaply.”
“If you’re going longer, you have to be better in those moments. You have to plan for the worst case and win second balls to give yourself a platform higher up the pitch. Boston were better than us in that department.”
“Our set-piece deliveries weren’t good enough. The goalkeeper was able to come out and deal with them far too easily.”
“In the opposition box, we didn’t carry anywhere near enough threat, and the areas between both boxes weren’t good enough either.”
“Maybe people will start to realise now that we’re not in a false position. There’s been a lot said about us being a good side going toe-to-toe with top teams, but perhaps there’s now a realisation – even in our own dressing room – that we’re not in a good position.”
“Wednesday is a massive game. It’s the biggest game of our season – and then the next one will be, and the one after that. That has to be the mentality.”
“We need a run of form between now and the end of the season that this club hasn’t had all year.”
“That’s the challenge, and that’s the reality.”
