Sandy banishes FA Cup run to history books as he demands Diamonds players ‘stand up’

"I don't want to hear again about the FA Cup, that has been and gone..."

Elliot Sandy is demanding a response from his players at St Ives Town on Saturday after they suffered a third straight league defeat in midweek, losing 1-0 at Coventry United on Wednesday.

Diamonds slipped to 13th in the Pitching-In Northern Premier League Midlands Division, with Sandy's side struggling to lift themselves after their big Emirates FA Cup clash at Burton Albion on Saturday.

The match against the Brewers ended in a 4-0 defeat, but it was a special day for the club, players and the 2,000 travelling supporters - but Sandy wants it consigned to the history books.

There is little doubt reaching the first round of the Cup has affected Diamonds' performances, with the team claiming just four points out of a possible 15 since they beat Morecambe in the final qualifying round.

They are also without a win in a midweek fixture since beating Nuneaton Town on August 18, and Sandy has told his squad he wants them 'to stand up', or he will start looking to bring other players in.

"I don't want to hear again about the FA Cup, that has been and gone," the Diamonds boss told @AFCRD.

"The players took all the plaudits for the run up until then, we were unbeaten in the league until three games ago, so it's not all doom and gloom.

"But we're in a bit of a wobble now, so will the lads stand up? Who will stand up?

"Whoever is picked on Saturday they need to stand up, whatever formation I pick, whatever players.

"Whoever I put out there needs to run and fight and work more than the other team, and that is what I will be looking for."

Sandy was bitterly disappointed with his the performance at Coventry United, and although he knows his team are still in a decent position as they have numerous games in hand on sides above them, he knows the team has to start winning again, and quickly.

"Tuesday was a game I thought was going to head to 0-0, but we didn't even get that," said Sandy.

"It's not the end of the world, but if we can't win games in midweek anyway then you might as well just not turn up.

"If we are going to turn up like we did on Wednesday then we might as well just leave it and say 'well, you have the points'.

"It's a big kick up the backside for everybody, me included, and we need to be better.

"If I need to get different lads in, then I will.

"As I have said, the FA Cup run means nothing now. Those boys have been absolutely brilliant in that sense, but it has gone.

"Now it is the league and we have to concentrate on that.

"That is one game in hand gone, but if we bounce back on Saturday with a win and go into a tough one on Tuesday, and if we can reel off a couple of wins you're right up there.

"So we're not a million miles away, but at the same time the games in hand will soon run out."