Saunders: Players owe everyone
Jay Saunders says Maidstone players owe everyone a performance at Bromley on Saturday.
United have struggled against the Ravens since promotion to the National League – losing all three meetings – but they head to Hayes Lane desperate for a result after 13 games without a win.
Bromley, managed by Neil Smith, occupy the final playoff spot and beat Workington 7-1 in the FA Trophy on Tuesday night.
Boss Saunders, who could have two new signings in place, knows it will be tough but it’s time for players to stand up and be counted.
He said: “The players shouldn’t need motivating – they owe everyone a performance.
“They owe me a performance, they owe the supporters a performance and it’s a Kent derby and they’ve got to go out there and give it a good go.
“Obviously, Smudge has got Bromley flying down there, they’re having a good season in the league and the cup and they’re a good side.
“They’ve lots of attacking threat, one of the top scorers in the league (13-goal Louis Dennis), so it’s not going to be easy, especially when you’re shipping the goals we are.
“We’ll work on it this week and hopefully we’ll have a couple of new recruits in.”
As well as leaking goals, Maidstone have struggled to score since Joe Pigott joined AFC Wimbledon in the January transfer window.
It’s an issue Saunders is working hard to solve but replacing someone of Pigott’s quality is easier said than done.
He said: “The facts are we haven’t got a goalscorer at the moment and that’s the long and short of it.
“Delano Sam-Yorke’s not coming up with the goods, no matter who we put there is not coming up with the goods.
“Don’t get me wrong, I know we’re conceding goals but when we’re completely on top and it’s all us you have to relieve that pressure and take those chances.
“I knew we’d miss Joe Pigott – I didn’t know how much we’d miss him.
“I’ve got to keep working to get someone in, which is nigh-on impossible at this stage of the season to get someone to replace arguably the best centre-forward in this league.”
Maidstone and Bromley meet again on Tuesday night, with United hosts in the Kent Senior Cup semi-finals.