We've hit rock bottom, admits beleaguered Daish

Saturday 24th October 2009

EBBSFLEET UNITED manager Liam Daish says his side have “hit rock-bottom” as his beleaguered side were dumped out of the FA Cup by lower-league Bromley today, writes Stephen McCartney.

The struggling Blue Square Premier side suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat to an in-form Bromley side at Hayes Lane.

Mark Goldberg’s side went into the fourth qualifying round tie sitting in eighth place in the Blue Square South table - just nine places below the Fleet - and have only lost two of their last eleven competitive games and fancied their chances against the poorest Fleet side for many years.

The Fleet have scored just eight goals all season and went into the derby match having failed to score in their last three games.

Confidence has been shot to pieces and players need to start looking at themselves and play with more pride - for the loyal fans that turn out in numbers at Stonebridge Road.

Forget about those so-called fair-weather supporters who follow the fortunes of the team over the internet - the club’s real fans deserve better!

Any hopes that the struggling Fleet would put their woeful league form behind them were dashed as Bromley scored early on through target-man Jacob Erskine.

Ryan Hall got in behind Ricky Shakes (who surprised many by playing in an unfamiliar right-back position), and his cross was finished off well by Erskine after just six minutes.

Bromley doubled their lead after 20 minutes, when Hall’s in swinging corner towards the near post was tucked home by Warren McBean.

The visitors’ best move of the game came on 49 minutes when Ishmael Welsh and Magno Vieira combined and a cross to the far post found Michael West, but his shot was very well saved by Gareth Williams.

But Bromley broke immediately and showed the Fleet exactly how to take such changes as McBean showed a clean pair of heels to bend the ball away from Lance Cronin and into the bottom corner of the goal.

Daish, speaking to BBC Radio Kent afterwards, was “very disappointed” with the performance of his players - and some players are clearly out of their depth as they are rooted to penultimate place in the Blue Square Premier table, only because of Chester City’s points deduction for going into administration.

“I think at this moment in time, we’ve hit a low now,” admitted a depressed sounding Daish.

“I see us as bottom of the league because it’s only Chester’s points deduction that’s kept us off the bottom, but going out of the FA Cup, it really has hit bottom at the moment.

“Today was an opportunity to kick start our season and that’s not happened.

“I think our issues now really is remaining in this league, in the Conference premier and keeping our status in that and it’s going to take a big effort, some big hearts and some big characters.

“I’ve got to either get them, find them or see if there’s any that stand up in that dressing room.

“I don’t know if they’ve got the character to get this club out of where we are, but I’m finding out on quite a few of them.

“Players have got to do their jobs better and I’m not asking them to do anything scientific or out of this world. I just want them to be strong and basically get back to doing the basics well.”

When asked whether today was his lowest in football, Daish replied, “I’m not feeling good about myself but at this moment in time we’re not doing enough on the pitch to actually cause teams problems and win games.

“I’m learning about these players and whether they have the character or not, we’ll have to find our pretty soon.

“We work on things, tell them things, we’re just not throwing them out there and just say get on with it, people are either not taking it in, or aren’t good enough.

“Today we’ve rolled over and fair play to Bromley. Not taking anything away their two centre forwards we’re strong and gave our centre halves a hard time and at the back their centre halves looked after our centre forwards so in those two key areas we weren’t good enough and they’re two key areas.”

Daish insists he is still the man to turn things around - starting with a home game against Welsh giants Wrexham in seven days time.

“I always go into every game positive that we’re going to win it and get something out of it and I’m confident I will do it,” insisted Daish.

“I won’t let other people carry on not doing their jobs - I won’t allow it!

“I weren’t the most silkiest player but I was committed with a big heart and I want my team to reflect this club and basically there’s a few that are letting the club down a little bit.”

Quotes courtesy of BBC Radio Kent - www.bbc.co.uk/kent/sport

Visit Ebbsfleet United’s website: www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk

Ebbsfleet United v Wrexham

Blue Square Premier

Saturday 31st October 2009

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Stonebridge Road, Northfleet, Kent DA11 9GN