We know the tough times are here but the whole club have to stick together and get through this, says Punjab United boss Jugit Sian

PUNJAB UNITED manager Jugjit Sian admits that life in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division has been hard.

 

The Gravesend-based outfit are playing at this level for the first time this season and they went down to a 3-2 home defeat to Sheppey United last Saturday.

The club are in the bottom four in the league table with 12 points (two wins and six draws) from their 18 league games and have Hollands & Blair (11 points from 18 games), Rusthall (five points from 18 games) and Croydon (three points from 17 games) below them in the pecking order.

“This season has been a tough test for the boys and myself as a manager.  Every game is a big game and it’s been a hard learning curve,” said Sian, who is more commonly known as Chipie.

“We had a difficult period with injuries and haven’t had my first eleven out yet but we are getting players back slowly and starting to play our way again.

“We were excellent against Sheppey last week and should have been four or five up but we switched off and ended up losing 3-2 after being 2-0 up.

“That’s life at this level, last year we would have got away with making a mistake, this year we are getting punished.”

Punjab United welcome Sean Muggeridge’s Crowborough Athletic side to the Elite Venue on Saturday.

The Crows go into the game in tenth-place in the table with 26 points on the board from 20 games.

“I’m looking forward to the Crowborough game but I don’t know too much about them but I know it’s going to be another tough one,” said Sian.

“We have Corinthian away a week later, which I know wiill be a big test as they have done well recently.

“I’ve managed to bring in striker Laurent Hamici from Glebe and he has been fantastic and I’ve brought in two new coaches in Mike Tison and his brother Martin, which has given the boys a big boost.

“I’m hoping to bring in a keeper next week and I’m just waiting on the other club to confirm his transfer.

“I believe in my way of playing and managing and believe we can cope at this level and will continue to play our way of football.  It’s hard but we have had amazing success in the last few seasons and know the tough times are here but the whole club have to stick together and get through this.”

Punjab United  v  Crowborough Athletic
Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division
Saturday 22 December 2018
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Elite Venue, Dunkirk Close, Gravesend, Kent DA12 5ND