Sandy downbeat as off-colour Diamonds surrender unbeaten run at Loughborough

The Diamonds were beaten 1-0 to suffer their first Pitching-In Northern Premier League Midlands Division loss of the campaign, and slip to 10th in the process.

Jamie Bryn Harris scored the only goal of a poor game on the hour, and Sandy was not happy as all departments of his team underperformed.

"I knew the run was going to come to an end, but I am just so disappointed," Sandy told @AFCRD.

"We said that when we were going to lose, that we go out fighting, we go out on our shield, we work hard and we give absolutely everything and somebody has to earn that win.

"Credit to Loughborough, but we just weren't at it at all.

"I think we were on top and in control for a lot, but we were just so sloppy in possession, terrible in the final third, and we have given away a poor goal as well.

"So it was just one of those nights where it all went wrong for us, and they have capitalised on that.

"Our delivery and decision making in the final third wasn't good enough, in midfield we kept giving the ball away, and then defensively when called upon we looked shaky.

"A lot went wrong and I am really disappointed to lose the unbeaten run in the league, and I have really told the lads about expectations, and that they should expect more from themselves."

Diamonds are still in a great position, sitting just three points off the play-offs with three games in hand on the sides above them, but they face another tough trip at the weekend when they go to fifth-placed Carlton Town.

That is the team's final fixture before the big FA Cup first round trip to Burton Albion, and Sandy is expecting a reaction.

"We are not going to just coast into Carlton on Saturday and get through that and then everyone rest themselves for Burton, that is not the case at all," said the Diamonds boss.

"If they want to be in the team (to play Burton) they need to turn up on Saturday and put in a performance."