Sutton United slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Salford City on Tuesday night.

With Paul Doswell’s injury-hit squad having to endure a 500-mile midweek trip to face the promotion-chasing Ammies, the result came as no surprise.

Emmanuel Dieseruvwe opened the scoring in the 12th minute and Carl Piergianni added a second 10 minutes into the second half to heap more misery on the U’s who threw away a two-goal lead at home to Hartlepool on Saturday.

Roarie Deacon found the target for the first time since rejoining the U’s last month in the 27th minute and Doswell’s men looked well on course for a welcome three points when striker Gime Toure grabbed the second in the 56th minute.

But Pools, who should have been at least two or three goals ahead at half-time, were rewarded for their persistence when Mark Kitching and Luke James scored in the 65th and 75th minutes respectively.

United were backed by 60 fans at Salford but the Sutton boss was quick to fire a broadside at the referee for failing to let play flow.

“I reckon that was a poor game to watch,” Doswell told SUFCtv.

“It was stop-start every 20 seconds.

“Every time we put the ball into the box he gave a foul against us.

“We know that [Liam] Hogan and Piergianni will hold onto you for dear life, yet he [referee] decided that 99 per cent of those were Jamie Collins fouls or Dean Beckwith fouls.

“I’m a bit perplexed. It led to a bitty game to watch. It’s tough coming up here on a Tuesday night. We were hoping of getting something from the game but when you concede early it puts your backs against the wall.”

United hope to get back to winning way when they visit Maidenhead United this Saturday (March 9). They host basement boys Braintree at Gander Green Lane next Tuesday (March 12).