Saunders demands response

Maidstone players are determined to make up for their worst performance of the season.

That was manager Jay Saunders’ description of Tuesday night’s 2- 0 defeat by Bromley.

Injury-hit United had played 45 minutes with 10 men at North Ferriby three days earlier but Saunders refused to blame tiredness.

He said: “It may have had something to do with it but I don’t want to take anything away from Bromley. They fully deserved their win.

“I’m not going to stand here and blame tiredness and all that because I’m not one for making excuses.

“Probably the first time in a long time I feel a bit let down by the lads. It was our worst performance of the season.”

There’s a chance to make amends when United host the National League’s bottom side Guiseley tomorrow (Saturday, 3pm).

Striker Jay May, who is back from a loan spell at Hastings, said: “It’s not like Jay to say he feels let down. He doesn’t say that too often.

“I don’t think he meant that people weren’t trying hard enough but the quality wasn’t good enough.

“Everybody could see that and we all knew that ourselves. You have off-days and hopefully that was just an off-day and we can put it to the back of our minds and go again on Saturday.

“Guiseley is a good chance to put it right but I don’t think anyone’s easy.

“Bromley hadn’t been doing too well, so I don’t think you can underestimate any team.”

Jack Evans returns from a one-game ban but there are concerns over Tom Mills (bruised ribs), Kevin Lokko (hip) and Anthony Acheampong (hamstring).

Stones were so short on Tuesday they could only name a four-man bench.

It came a week after Dumebi Dumaka and Vas Karagiannis went out on loan but Saunders won’t rush out to sign reinforcements.

He said: “You loan some people out and all of a sudden you pick up injuries but that’s the way it goes.

“Vas and DD have gone for the month but they’re not really areas where we’re struggling with injuries. We’ll see how everyone is. I’m not going to panic and rush into getting people in.

“We’ll be OK. Hopefully, Lokko’s not too serious because it’s a bit early to rush Ach back.”