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Ebbsfleet manager Dennis Kutrieb couldn’t hide his disappointment after their FA Cup exit at Leyton Orient on Saturday.
The Fleet were the better team for long periods at Brisbane Road but they lacked a cutting edge in front of goal against a side content on defending.
“It was very tight,” said Kutrieb. “We made the one mistake, the boys claimed it was offside but I don’t know if it was or not. It was the one situation where we did not press them good enough in the right moment.
“But that’s the difference in football. I’m disappointed but Leyton Orient don’t care, they got the win and are into the next round. That’s fine margins in football.
“When you want to be really successful, play league football and be better then you need to punish your opponents in the beginning of the game and then you are on top of them.
“They would have needed to do something but they didn’t need to do anything, they only had to defend and that’s what they’ve done quite well during the whole season.”
Kutrieb pointed to three big openings in the first 12 minutes for his National League South side, who came into the game on the back of seven straight victories.
Lee Martin’s deflected shot was saved early on, Rakish Bingham and Dominic Poleon were unable to take advantage of a three-on-one break and then Greg Cundle ran virtually the entire length of the pitch before declining a shooting opportunity.
“There were three key moments in the game,” reflected Kutrieb. “Even before they touched the ball, we had a big chance, then a three against one when we should create a big chance, and then Greg Cundle drove into the box (and didn’t) finish.
“Congratulations to them but perhaps it’s a day I’m really disappointed. I don’t think I’ve been more disappointed before, it’s a tough one for me to take. At one-nil you are always in the game but that’s football.
“If I’m honest I had the feeling during the 90 minutes that they only wanted to defend. There was only one team playing, I don’t want to be disrespectful because they are the League side and are in the next round but I only saw one team playing.
“After 80 minutes they passed the ball around but that’s normal when the tank is getting more and more empty. I’m looking forward to the stats – it doesn’t help – but it will show only one team was playing.”
Kutrieb was impressed with the quality his team showed but felt they lacked that extra composure when it mattered most.
He said: “It’s tough for me to take, 1-0 is really unlucky. I can’t say they played really well and they deserved to be one goal better if that makes sense but it doesn’t matter – they scored and they go through.
“I could see lots of quality on the pitch from us, in some areas not the same composure as we show in our league games but that’s normal.
“You play against a league side, two levels above, you start thinking about different situations but I’m really proud of them.
“They worked so well and ever so hard during the 90 minutes. They started to pass the ball after 80 minutes, that’s big credit to our boys.”
Ebbsfleet were cheered on by more than 850 away supporters at Brisbane Road.
They stayed behind after the final whistle to clap their team off the pitch, and Kutrieb was impressed with the level of support once again.
“I can only thank them, they were outstanding even after the game,” said the Fleet boss.
“To clap the boys off after a one-nil defeat, when everyone is disappointed will give them a lift which is what the boys need now as they are disappointed like me.
“Like I’ve said many times before, there is a good bond between the fans and the players and that’s what it has to be.
“It’s not taken for granted, I really appreciate it again and again, like the boys on the pitch the fans were outstanding off the pitch.”
