Steven King today defended his highly-fancied Lewes side who continued their spluttering start to the season with a 2-2 home draw with lowly Basingstoke. Rooks began the season touted as favourites to make the play-offs.

But they are 12th in the table with two wins, four draws and two defeats.

Rooks had to rely on an 88th-minute equaliser from Jamie Cade to secure a point in a match they dominated. King's team created five clearcut chances.

Gary Holloway was denied by a superb save, Paul Booth and Jay Saunders missed open goals, while Simon Wormull hit the bar and failed with a one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

King, banished from the touchline because of an Football Association ban, was left wondering how opponents yet to score a victory this season could run his side so close.

He said: "Our performance was really okay, although there is room for improvement. I haven't always said that this season.

"We definitely deserved to win. They had one shot in open play and scored their goals from a penalty and via a free-kick, while we had five real chances on top of the ones we scored.

"People made us favourites because we had reached the play-offs before and expected us to be flying. But we don't have a divine right to do well. We have to earn it.

"What's happening now is not the end of the world. We've got good players and there's plenty of time left."

Jean-Michel Sigere, back after four games out through injury, put Rooks ahead on 33 minutes.

But Basingstoke levelled through a Matt Warner penalty following an Andrew Ottley challenge in the 54th minute and James Taylor headed them in front from a Warner free-kick seven minutes later.

Wormull, already sidelined with ankle and back problems this season, has been ruled out of tonight's league match at Thurrock with a facial injury sustained against Basingstoke.