STEPHEN MAGUIRE concedes he is struggling to hang on to the coat-tails of snooker’s top performers after being dominated 6-2 by Neil Robertson.

The 2004 UK winner at York said he didn’t “get a shot” and had “no excuses” as the world number one booked a semi-final clash with Ronnie O’Sullivan’s conqueror Stuart Bingham today.

But of bigger concern to Maguire, who has openly admitted he should have won more titles during his career, is the way he is now struggling at the highest level.

He added: “I think Neil has beaten me the last seven or eight times. I am actually a little scared to think about it.

“I used to own him years ago. I think I was about 9-0 up in matches and it has happened with a few others. I think I was 7-0 up on Ding Junhui as well. Neil has definitely improved. I think everyone knows that he has improved his matchplay. They have all improved. I just don’t know about me.”

On his defeat to Robertson, Maguire added: “In the first frame I missed one red and I didn’t see another shot, basically, until I was 3-0 down and 50-odd behind. He just kept me cold.

“I wasn’t flat. I was trying, I was doing everything. I don’t think I made that many mistakes. I just think he was putting me in trouble all the time.

“I’ve been beaten 6-2 and I have played a lot worse and won matches. The best guy won on the day. I was sitting in my seat and I was just feeling that I was totally out-played.

“I didn’t really get in among the balls but he is world number one and he deserves a little bit of respect.”