Sutton United manager Paul Doswell described his side’s performance as ‘comical’ after the U’s were thumped 4-0 at home by Boreham Wood on Tuesday night.

The U’s went into the game with high hopes having gone four matches unbeaten but got off to a disastrous start, conceding three goals inside the opening 25 minutes.

Things could have been very different had Charlie Clough and Ross Lafayette converted two gilt-edged chances early on but the visitors compounded Sutton’s misery by adding a fourth in the second half.

“We defended comically and we were comical in front of their goal too,” Doswell told SUFCtv.

“Boreham Wood have had four or five chances and converted four. We had maybe eight or nine chances but didn’t convert any.”

The heavy loss was a reality check for the U’s who have started well this season, losing only two of 11 National League games as well as progressing to the third round of the Irn-Bru Cup.

Doswell was pragmatic in defeat and tried to find something positive from a hugely disappointing night for his team.

“Credit to Boreham Wood. I thought they were very quick and strong physically — much more so than us.”

“It’s not the worst thing that could happen. Sometimes you need a kick.

“Maybe we got complacent, thinking we just had to turn up to win the game but in this league you can’t do that. If you do, you get beat heavily, as we were tonight.

“At the end of the day we both walk away from this ground tonight on the same points. Two sides, eleven games, 19 points.”

Sutton now face a real test of character when second-placed Wrexham come to the Knights Community Stadium this Saturday (September 22, 3pm). Dover Athletic visit next Tuesday (September 25, 7.45pm).