Sutton United striker: "We'll be out to put things right on Saturday" (From Wimbledon Guardian)

Williams admits a below par performance must not be allowed again

2:40pm Friday 15th March 2013 in Sutton United By Tim Ashton

Sutton United striker Marvin Williams admitted the referee was right to book him for simulation during a dismal Tuesday night at Gander Green Lane.

Truro City, the basement boys of the Blue Square South, returned to Cornwall with all three points after a 1-0 win and, in their wake, left a United performance that was as flat as last week’s 4-3 win over Bromley was exciting.

United coach Paul Telfer, who was holding the reins with Steve McKimm in the absence of manager Paul Doswell, described his team’s display as “unacceptable and embarrassing” – a view echoed by Williams.

“Everything about our performance was very below par,” he said.

“I cannot put my finger on what it was, but we came up against a side that worked harder than us in every position.

“We did not win our individual battles. We did not get going from the start and it showed.

“You try to get it out of your head as soon as you can.

“We’ll come in for training, and some bits will be worked on. The gaffer will have his say.

“We’ll be all out to put things right on Saturday. We know what needs to be done – it’s not rocket science, we just need to work much harder than we did.”

Williams, who joined United in October from Eastleigh, was booked for diving  in the first half after going down under the visiting goalkeeper’s challenge – a scenario repeated at the other end when Truro’s Andrew Watkins was also cautioned for simulation under a challenge from Simon Downer.

Williams said: “I got to the ball first and just nicked it in front of the keeper.

“I felt the contact was going to come but the keeper did well and pulled out at the final second. He’s done well, and the referee got it right.

“I thought the one in our box was going to be a penalty, but Simon said the lad dived as well, and that he had not caught him.

“The referee must have Hawkeye.”

Telfer said: “It was so flat right from the start and that is not acceptable at home. It is perplexing why it was like that.

“Is it the old scenario where the schoolteacher leaves the room and the kids misbehave?

“But that would make it doubly embarrassing and insulting to me and Steve.

“You should not have to motivate players and they should not drop their standards because the manager’s not here.”

United, who were held to a goalless draw at Hayes & Yeading United on Saturday, face Farnborough this weekend.