Knight blames ‘bad day at the office’ for defeat

Lee Knight put Racing Club’s home defeat to Nuneaton down to a “bad day at the office”.

A spell of eight games in a month, including two extra-time cup victories, looked to have taken its toll on Racers, with Knight’s side finding themselves 3-1 down at half-time having conceded all three goals from headers.

Michael Batchelor’s 35th-minute strike had given them brief hope at 2-1, but despite a much-improved second-half showing, the hosts could find no way back.

“We weren’t at it,” admitted Knight. “It was the same players and the same system that saw us beat Southam and Coventry Copsewood.

“We’ve played two 120 minutes in the last two weeks and the players looked absolutely knackered before they started.

“They looked heavy-legged, but I can’t fault the effort, they gave it their all.

“We’ll just have to put it down to a bad day at the office.”

Knight was thankful for a blank midweek, with only a light training session planned in preparation for tomorrow’s FA Vase first-round trip to Stratford Town.

And, having seen Racing Club produce some of their best form in Vase wins over Eccleshall and Bromyard Town, Knight heads to the DCS Stadium in confident mood.

“We need to forget about last Saturday and get to the level we’ve been in the Vase and in the Tuesday night win over Southam.

“If we put another run together it will be the best way to bounce back from Saturday.”

With goalkeeper Paul Hewitt suspended following his sending off at Southam, Knight will make a late choice between Ash Malholtra, who has been drafted in from Evesham, and the re-signed Matty Marshall, to take the number one spot.