Sutton United player coach Steve McKimm reckons his side must learn from their weekend FA Cup defeat at Hereford United if they are to make the Ryman League Premier Division play-offs.

Boss Paul Doswell’s men crashed 2-0 at Edgar Street on Saturday, but gave a good account of themselves at the League Two strugglers - who played with ten men for more than an hour after goalscorer Mathieu Manset was given his marching orders for violent conduct.

Matt Hann volleyed Sutton’s best chance wide of the mark and McKimm reckons that has been symptomatic of his side’s season thus far.

“To get into the first round two seasons running is a tremendous achievement, but we cannot dwell on it,” he said.

“We’ve got a realistic chance of making the play-offs and getting promoted and that has to be our focus.

“We played some decent stuff, but couldn’t find the cutting edge. We’ve got to learn to have an end product, whether that be a decent cross or a shot.

“That has been our problem all season.We’ve got to be ruthless and take our chances when you get them, because you don’t get many of them as Saturday showed.

“If we can get to grips with that we are going to give someone the serious hammering I think our football deserves.”

McKimm had expect to play more of a supporting role this season with Doswell opting for a more youthful approach to the campaign, but he has emerged as one of the team’s key performers.

The 33-year-old missed pre-season training to concentrate on his coaching and has found a new lease of life in recent weeks, but he insists the side’s run to the first round proper and recent league form has been about a team effort.

“I didn’t expect to play much at the start of the season. It was clear the more youthful approach wasn’t quite working and we needed some more experience heads to take the pressure of Jason Goodliffe and Karim El-Salahi,” he added.

“There are a lot of young kids on the park wanting to do their own thing sometimes. It is my job to manage that on the field and it seems to be paying off.

“But the whole thing is not about me playing well, it is about the team performing. I’m just happy to be part of that whether it be as a substitute or as a starter.

“I still do the coaching but there is no substitute for playing and to get the chance to pull the shirt on is one you can’t turn down.”

Sutton, who crashed out of the League Cup 2-1 at Horsham on Tuesday night, host Ashford Town (Middx) on Saturday and McKimm is expecting a tough examination.

“The fact they have a new manager will help them, but every game is winnable. If we can get some consistency this league is wide open,” he said.