Paul Doswell 'very proud' of Sutton's 'moral victory' over Arsenal
Monday 20 February 2017 23:57, UK
Sutton United manager Paul Doswell has revealed his pride at the performance his side produced in their 2-0 FA Cup defeat to Arsenal on Monday.
Non-league Sutton, who play in the fifth tier of English football, restricted Arsenal to just two goals at Gander Green Lane while creating a number of chances for themselves in front of a capacity crowd of just over 5,000.
Doswell's part-timers made history this year in booking their place in the last-16 of the FA Cup for the very first time, but Monday's fifth-round tie proved a step too far.
"Five letters - proud," Doswell said after the defeat.
"I'm very, very proud of them. We asked them to give everything they had and they gave us that.
"When you see Adam May before half-time and Jamie Collins' header from six yards, Roarie [Deacon] smacks the bar - you do need one of those to go in."
Sutton, who were in the National League South just last season, defeated League Two Cheltenham Town, League One AFC Wimbledon and Sky Bet Championship side Leeds to set up Monday night's glamour tie with the Gunners, and Doswell applauded his side's '"moral victory" afterwards.
"I'd love to have got a goal for the supporters. One of my little goals was to do better than Southampton and we have done that.
"They lost 5-0 to them and we lost 2-0 so in my mind that's a moral victory."
The U's currently sit 17th in the National League and will now turn their attentions to survival for the rest of the season, but the memories created by their FA Cup run will last forever.
