Skipper Joe Vines reckons his Tooting & Mitcham side are desperately missing the unpredictablity factor after the Terrors crashed to their second consecutive defeat on Tuesday night.

The 2-1 midweek loss at Ashford Town came hot on the heels of a frustrating 2-1 home defeat to Aveley on Saturday, back to back results that have seen Tooting slump from second to ninth in the Ryman Premier league table.

And defender Vines admits the Terrors are proving far too easy to stifle at present.

He said: “We really do need that little bit of craft.

“We need a player that can do something a bit special or pick a pass - at the moment we have a lot of players who are willing to work extremely hard, but without that vision.

“We have a lot of the ball but are running out of ideas when it comes to the final third.

“Last year we had Michail Antonio, who could not only unlock the door for you but barge right through it - and we have not really replaced him.”

Matt York struck from the penalty spot on Tuesday night as Tooting came unstuck against ten-man Ashford, while Craig Pitterson grabbed the solitary goal at the weekend.

This weekend sees Billy Smith’s men get a breather from league action as Tooting travel to Canvey Island for a FA Cup second qualifying round clash, and Vines insists they will be going all out for the win.

He added: “Tooting have a great tradition in the FA Cup and it would be great to add to that.

“Even the boss himself has a cup reputation (Smith scored for Tooting against Northampton Town in the cup in 1977) so it is an important competition for him.

“Any competition that gives you the chance to play a league side is a massive opportunity.

“We are all failed footballers at this level and to play a league side would be a dream come true.”

Tooting & Mitcham’s next three matches: Sep 26 Canvey Island (FAC, a), Oct 3 Tonbridge Angels (h), 10 Sutton United (a )