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Search forBRAINTREE: "No excuses" says Iron boss after FA Cup exit
Thursday, October 02, 2008, 10:45
The Iron suffered a shock 4-0 defeat in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round at the Surrey club who play two leagues below Braintree in the Ryman League Division One South.
Patterson told the Chronicle it was a "humiliating fashion" to be dumped out of the cup and added: "Key players under performed and the opposition outworked us on the day so there's no excuses but the result will be in the pit of my stomach for a long time.
"I never criticise my players in public but there were a fair few that were told in no uncertain terms of what is expected in the future.
"All the previous week we had spoken to the team about the dangers of being complacent but it didn't seem to be listened to as we under performed which was massively disappointing to everyone at the club.
"We missed out on having a decent cup run, bringing money into and raising the profile of the club but there can be no excuses."
Iron's cause was not helped by Wayne O'Sullivan's 25th minute sending off and the loss of goalkeeper Craig Holloway in the second half with a dead leg which denied him the chance of preventing the home side's second goal.
"Playing with 10 men for so long made it extra hard work and had Sean Marks' first half shot gone in and not been cleared off the line and likewise his second half shot which hit the woodwork it might have been a different story," said Patterson. "Once they scored it was always going to be an uphill struggle one man short and pushing men forward always leaves you exposed at the back and that's what happened late on when they score three goals.
"I think the final scoreline flattered them but it was our fault and we've blown our chance of making a few quid and having a decent cup run."
The Iron boss is demanding a positive reaction from his players and expects them to bounce back from this huge upset when they take on current Blue Square South leaders Hayes & Yeading United away on Saturday.
"That's going to another difficult game but we'll have two hard training sessions this week and sort a few things out," Patterson continued. "We have to start getting results and pick up points and we have a far better squad than last year to do so with better players coming in for those that have left."
Patterson's latest signing is striker Danny Hockton, 28, from Bromley for a four-figure fee.
A prolific goalscorer at every club he's played for, he scored 19 goals for the Hayes Lane club last season in a prolific 40-goal plus partnership with Gareth Williams, who is also now at Braintree.
"I've been after Danny for some time and I'm pleased to finally get him on board and we know he can score goals alongside Williams and think he will also fit in with Marks," Patterson added.
In the wake of the FA Cup defeat the Iron have this week released defender Stevland Angus.
On Monday the Iron return to cup duty when they go to Chelmsford City in the Setanta Shield Second Round at Melbourne Stadium, kick-off 7.30pm.
"I will be putting out our full first team because this is an important competition in my view," said Patterson. "There's good prize money on offer and it's a cup we would like to win."
For both matches Billy Burgess will be back from suspension and Mark Jones and Ryan Moran are fit.
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DISAPPOINTED: Iron boss Lee Patterson.
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