Dev claims fans expect too much (story posted on 20/12/01)

But poor defending blamed for cup exit

THERE were plenty of talking points surrounding Maidenhead United this week, following a moderate but effective performance on Saturday and a well below par league cup showing on Tuesday night.
However, perhaps the best place to start would be some important milestones set by two of United’s players.
First up is club stalwart Obinna Ulasi, who celebrated his 250th appearance for the Magpies on Saturday.
The diminutive wing-back certainly pulled out all the stops to mark the occasion, creating both of the opening goals with his speed and guile.
He may not have scored too many of late, but he has clearly demonstrated his ability to play at this level and long may it last.
The other player who warrants a mention is Saturday’s man of the match Lee Channell. In mid-November he only had two goals and two missed penalties to his name.
However, by mid-December he had notched up 11 goals, nine of those from just five starts.
He has also become something of a lucky mascot, with United’s only recent defeats occurring when he was either suspended or rested.
But now for the bad news. There was an element of the old up-and-under in Saturday’s display as well as some new frailties in defence.
Playing two big centre backs certainly adds some rigidity to the back line, but it also seems to detract from the midfield.
On Tuesday night, the big boys at the back were opened up again, as lowly Hampton & Richmond banged five goals past United’s outstanding keeper Richard Barnard.
Coach Alan Devonshire said his team selection was horses for courses and claimed people expected too much.
He said: “I think we did okay on Saturday but perhaps we got over confident. We were three up and we relaxed too much. We lost our discipline in the last 15 minutes and we paid for it.
“Maybe people just expect too much. We have never been this high in the league before and that’s a major achievement. It’s a credit to the players.”
However, Tuesday’s performance came in for more direct criticism.
Devonshire added: “It was poor defending from the midfield back. We had pulled back to 4-3 then gave away another sloppy goal.
“Hampton only had six strikes on goal and scored with five of them!”
On Boxing Day, Maidenhead travel to Chesham, who are currently lying seventh in the league and have only lost once in their last eight outings.