Matt Gray admitted he felt ‘absolutely gutted’ for his Sutton side after seeing them battle for the majority of the game with 10 men only to suffer a 2-1 defeat at Barrow.
U’s striker Harry Smith was sent off for stamping on Tom White off the ball just 13 minutes in but the depleted visitors took the lead through Lee Angol’s 33rd-minute goal and looked like holding out to secure a second straight league win.
However, two goals in two minutes late on, Emile Acquah equalising in the 80th minute and Jamie Proctor netting the winner soon after, gave Barrow victory and left the Sutton boss devastated.
“I just feel absolutely gutted for everyone in the changing room,” he said. “With the work, the effort, the desire and the team spirit that we’ve got here, we haven’t got anything out of the game and we deserved to.
“We were in a good shape, well organised and we were frustrated when they were on the ball. They’re a very good side with very good players but they’re not really an overly possession-based team. So when they had their spells on the ball it wasn’t that natural for them so we were reasonably solid and comfortable.
“Overall I was very pleased but we got hit with two sucker-punches. When you concede the first you have to stick together and make sure you don’t concede a second – but I’m not concerned about the goals, I’m just gutted because we did deserve something out of the game.”
Like virtually everyone at the SO Legal Stadium, Gray missed Smith’s moment of madness that the fourth official did see. And, rather than lambasting his striker, he was focusing more on his players’ efforts that, in the end, counted for nothing.
“It’s bitterly disappointing to come here on our longest trip of the season,” he added. “All the work and the preparation we do and we find ourselves down to 10 men so early.
“It’s very frustrating to be in that position but I thought the shape and our organisation – and scoring a goal – was excellent for large spells.”
Gray could at least count on some sympathy from his opposite number, Pete Wild, whose side had looked like falling to a defeat with 10 minutes remaining.
But delightful passes from substitute Sam Foley created chances for Acquah and Proctor, both of which were capitalised upon to give the Bluebirds the points.
“I have a lot of sympathy for Matt, Sutton are a top, top League two team who are very effective at what they do,” said Wild.
“We’re really happy to beat them because we know how good they are and how well organised they are.
“They defended resolutely for the manager, I thought they were excellent in their shape and how they frustrated us. They all stuck to the task but luckily we found a way in the end.
“I’m sure when he reflects on Monday he’ll be proud of how well his team dug in.
“With the red card coming so early on we felt like we had to win the game in the next five minutes. We got a bit frantic, tried to overplay and tried to force things.
“The subs have been the difference for us today, I’m really pleased with how they finished the game and that’s what you want. I’m pleased with how they dealt with the pressure of coming on to help the team.
“Sam Foley has played two great passes for the goals. We’ve had 15 shots on goal and Ged Garner has done everything but score today and then with the toughest chance of the game it goes in from Emile.
“And then when you slide in the likes of Jamie Proctor you just know he’s going to score goals.”
Correa 'showed what he can do' against Verona, says Inzaghi
Simone Inzaghi says Joaquin Correa "showed what he can do" as he inspired Inter to a 5-0 win at Verona on Saturday.
The Argentine made his first start of the season, scoring a goal, registering two assists and striking the woodwork twice, as he stepped in for the absent Lautaro Martinez and helped Inter move top of the table.
Each of Correa's three away goals for Inter in Serie A have come at the Bentegodi against Verona, while he both scored and assisted in a single Serie A match for only the second time, after July 2020, for Lazio against Brescia.
"Correa deserved this chance for how he's been working since June, he showed what he can do," Inzaghi told a press conference.
"I'm happy for him. In addition to being a great player, he's a good guy who continued with his work despite some mistrust."
Inter scored at least five goals in the first half of an away league game for only the second time in their history in Serie A, after their 5-1 win against Sampdoria in the first 45 minutes of play back in March 1964.
Last season, Correa was sent on a one-year loan to Marseille and was expected to leave Inter for good as the French club had an option to buy the player.
Upon his return, the 30-year-old made three appearances in the first 12 league games, entering from the bench at Monza, Udinese and Roma before he was selected to pair up with Marcus Thuram from the start against Verona.
Correa opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a chipped finish after a precise pass from Thuram. He then returned the favour and teed the Frenchman up to double the lead in the 22nd, before setting up Yann Bisseck for the fifth before the break.
"It wasn't difficult because my team-mates helped me and were happy when I scored," Correa said.
"I wanted to do the back heel for Bisseck, but there was also a bit of luck. There are a lot of good guys here, we have to continue like this."
Inter next host RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Tuesday, and they may still be without Martinez, who fell sick when he returned from international duty.
"We need to see how the virus evolves," Inzaghi said. "Last night he had chills and this morning he had a fever of almost 38 degrees.
"I had [the same virus] too, skipping training on Monday and Tuesday. In any case, he would have been [resting] on the bench today even if he had been here. We'll see."
Martinez scored in both of Argentina's World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay (2-1) and Peru (1-0).
Girona 4-1 Espanyol: Miovski bags double as hosts ride on first-half blitz
Bojan Miovski scored twice as Girona thrashed Espanyol 4-1 in LaLiga at Estadi Municipal de Montilivi on Saturday.
Bryan Gil and Ladislav Krejci were also on the scoresheet as the home side raced to a 4-0 lead inside the first half hour, with Javi Puado scoring the visiting side's only goal after the break.
After the match was halted because of a fan being taken ill in the crowd, Gil opened the scoring when he unleashed a stunning long-range strike into the bottom corner with four minutes on the clock.
Gil was behind the second goal for Michel's side too, as he capitalised on a defensive error and crossed to Miovski, who made it 2-0 in the 16th minute before the pair combined again for a third five minutes later.
Donny van de Beek's header from Yaser Asprilla's corner was pushed in by Krejci for Girona's fourth in the 27th minute.
Espanyol got a consolation goal 10 minutes into the second half when Puado hit a long-range strike that found the back of Paulo Gazzaniga's net.
Girona, last season's surprise package, climbed to fifth in LaLiga with 21 points, while Espanyol are 19th and in the relegation zone with 10 points.
Guardiola acknowledges Man City 'are fragile' after fifth straight defeat
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged that he is in new territory following their 4-0 home defeat to Tottenham on Saturday, which was their fifth on the bounce.
But despite that, he was not going to hit the panic button, with his side second in the Premier League table and five points behind leaders Liverpool.
"We are fragile at the moment, we could not defend properly. We started well, struggled to score and then conceded. Then the situation is more difficult," he told Sky Sports after the match.
"I've been here as a player, maybe not as a manager, first three games at Barcelona we lost. [In the] last eight years, the results have been there, it would be a mistake to change the approach.
"There are no fairytales in life and sport, sometimes you have to live through these situations. You have to accept it. You can't blame each other, stay together, continue to do what we have done.
"Run away? Absolutely not, we have to stand up more than ever. What will define us is when we fail, we stand up and face it."
Guardiola is by some distance City's most successful manager of all time, having won 18 major trophies at the club, including each of the last four Premier League titles.
His side visit league leaders Liverpool next week and could trail them by eight points by the time kick-off comes, with Arne Slot's side playing a day after City this weekend.
"I don't know what will happen this season, but not for one second will I not believe in these players," said Guardiola.
"There is no team in the world that can sustain success for eight, nine, 10 years in a row.
"Of course, everything is not fine, but what we try to do is analyse it, let's go to next game and see what happens."
On the individual performances of his players, Guardiola lamented the fitness issues that his side has faced in recent weeks.
"Chances were there. The moment they create the chances, the build-up, we couldn't handle the duels like normal. Now we're struggling a little bit," he told BBC Sport.
"It cannot happen. When you play top level teams, we can concede chances but it's part of process. In our situation, it's a bit tougher.
"The players came back late [from international duty]. There were a few reasons we're not able to be consistent.
"Of course, Rodri is important, but we knew that for many months. But [John] Stones can only play 45 minutes, Jack [Grealish] has been injured many times, Kevin [de Bruyne] two months and five months.
"We have to come back and freshen our minds. The season is so long, many things can happen."
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