Sutton United chairman Bruce Elliott has backed manager Ian Hazel despite Saturday's 3-1 FA Cup drubbing at home to Bishop's Stortford.

Having dropped into the relegation zone of Conference South, it was hoped that a spirited performance in the cup would restore confidence, but it was not to be.

Sutton's Ross Gaynor made it 3-1 with 20 minutes to play, but there was no sign of a fairy tale come back. A red card for substitute Zak Graham in stoppage time capped a dismal day.

Yet despite the lacklustre performance, Elliott was in no mood to turn on his manager.

"I have absolutely no doubt that we have made the right appointment," said Elliott.

"On and off the pitch, Ian and his assistant, Paul Harford, are very well organised.

"We are delighted with how well it has gone in that respect, they just haven't had the rub of the green.

"Something is going to have to change because the results aren't good enough, but I know they are working hard to turn it round."

While Hazel and Harford have blamed bad luck in recent weeks, Sutton's assistant boss admitted Saturday's performance was not up to scratch.

"We didn't perform anywhere near as well as we would have liked, certainly not as well as in the past few games," said Harford.

"We desperately wanted a good cup run so the result is disappointing for the club.

"Maybe the draw didn't favour us, but that is the cup."

United were unlucky to be paired with Bishop's Stortford. It was the only all top-flight tie of the second qualifying round against a side flying high in Nationwide Conference South.

The odds were further stacked against Sutton after a combination of injuries, suspensions and cup-tied players weakened the starting line-up.

On-loan Charlie Ide had to sit out the game, while fellow striker Richard Harris limped off with a thigh strain and is doubtful for Saturday's game against Thurrock.

With reserve goalkeeper Luke Naughton starting his first game of the season in place of broken rib victim Phil Wilson, it was perhaps unfair to expect too much of United.

"When you are hit by problems like that in the run-up to a game you start to think that your luck is out," said Elliott.

"It has been like that for the past month. At times this season, opposition officials have been embarrassed to walk away from Gander Green Lane with the points.

"We have played sides off the park but not got the results we deserved.

"The hope is that, at some point, the decisions and luck will turn in our favour."