Baird: We can make up for Trophy misery

By Wendy Gee - 

IAN Baird believes Eastleigh are capable of putting their FA Trophy disappointment behind them at Blue Square South leaders Woking tomorrow - but only if they match their hard work with quality in the final third.

Baird was so disappointed to crash out of the Trophy 8-7 on penalties against Chippenham Town after drawing Tuesday's replay  1-1 that he jumped straight in his car and drove home.

On reflection, he felt the Spitfires' performance was a vast improvement on last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Hardenhuish Park but, not for the first time, Eastleigh lacked attacking pizazz.

"I wouldn'nt say it was a poor performance on Tuesday," said Baird. "We don't have the benefit of Opta stats, but I'd say we pretty much dominated possession.

"But, once again, we weren't good enough to break them down. That's the kind of side we are.

"We conceded a sloppy early goal, then got one back and dominated for 25 minutes, but we didn't finish them off.

"That gives teams belief and Chippenham sat in, worked hard and were disciplined.

"We went a goal up in the penalty shootout but then you miss one and you know it's not going to be your night.

"I don't see it as a defeat because we drew the game and only lost on penalties, but we didn't have that extra bit of quality.

"The way we defended was superb and I couldn't fault the lads for effort, but the flair players didn't produce."

Former Cards striker Jamie Slabber is a doubt to face his old club having missed Tuesday's game with a bad back.

Ross Bottomley and Ian Herring are both suspended, while Danny Smith (hamstring) and Jamie Brown (hip/knee) are nursing knocks.

"There's no reason why we can't produce at Woking, but we're going to be right up against it with injuries and, particularly suspensions," said Baird.