Reaction: Fleet’s day off cancelled

Ebbsfleet boss Garry Hill cancelled his players’ day off after their home defeat by Yeovil on Tuesday night.

The Fleet squad usually have Wednesdays off but Hill says that luxury is on hold until his winless side pick up their form.

Ebbsfleet sit bottom of the National League after four games and are the only team in the division yet to pick up a point.

“You have to earn your days off and when you’re having the results we are and the manner of them, I don’t think we’re earning our day off,” said Hill.

“The responsibility comes down to the management team. It’s got to hurt us. I’m all for having days off when we’re earning them but I don’t think we’re doing enough at the moment on the field of play with our results which don’t tell lies, with the league table which doesn’t tell lies.

“We’ve got to say goodbye to days off until we get it right.

“We have to get in, have a chat, go through things and try and put things right.

“There’s no hiding place. It’s not going to happen overnight, we have to make it happen.”

Hill believes his players are suffering from a lack of confidence. They are yet to go in front during any of their four league matches – and left-back Aswad Thomas has scored two of their three goals to date.

“The biggest problem we’re having at the moment is a lack of confidence,” said Hill.

“Getting one in front is a lot more of a boost than being one behind. After 20 minutes, we were bright and trying to play at the right tempo but they scored out of nothing.

“They’ve not had to work for that goal. We always say this is an unforgiving and punishing league, and it doesn’t matter who you are at the end of the day. If you don’t defend properly and put your body on the line, you’re going to get punished.

“It’s only four games into the season, yes, but the manner of the goals we’re conceding at the moment is, I wouldn’t say worrying but, very disappointing.

“We’ve got to turn round and get straight back in here tomorrow and start working because we go to Solihull Moors on Saturday who got six away at Chorley. They are a decent side and are going to be there or thereabouts.

“The games don’t get any easier, you don’t look at any games in this league and say we’re going to pick up three points. I believed we were going to get a result but the goals we’re conceding have come down to either individual errors or a lack of responsibility on the field.

“You can’t let in the goals we have. I don’t have pleasure coming out after the game and talking about the disappointing result or defending. But by the same token players can’t think they’re getting days off with the situation where we are at the moment. That’s all gone.

“At most football clubs, it’s usually a Wednesday off – there’s no Wednesday off here. We’ve got some serious work to do and things to be done.

“You don’t turn round and dwell on it for another 24 or 48 hours. You’ve got to get in here, clear our heads and start work again.”