Manager Steve King insists in-form Deal will be big underdogs at frontrunners Faversham this Saturday.

The Hoops’ 2-0 weekend home win over Bearsted was a ninth consecutive victory - during which they have kept three straight clean sheets - and they have incredibly lost only twice in their last 20 games.

Fifth-placed Deal are five points behind the Lilywhites with four Southern Counties East Premier Division matches in hand.

But King said: “We go in as big underdogs. I know we have been on a good run but, if you look at their squad on paper, it’s the strongest SCEFL squad that I have ever seen.

“On paper, I think it’s stronger than the Chatham and Sheppey squads from a couple of years ago. They have players with Football League experience.

“Most of our players have been with us for five or six years and played when we were a mid-table SCEFL side. On paper, it looks like there will only be one winner but we have got nothing to lose.

“We have put ourselves in a good position in the league already. I make them favourites.

“There will be a big crowd. They have an experienced management team and experienced players - but we don’t mind being underdogs.

“We don’t get it very often now, other than the odd Vase game. But we spent years being the underdogs, trying to upset the odds.”

Deal have enjoyed some recent strong FA Vase runs. They have also strengthened in the last two seasons, signing forwards Aaron Millbank and Rory Smith.

“We have got players that have played in big games,” King admitted.

“Rory Smith and Millbank have played in play-off finals in the division above - and won them (with Herne Bay).

“We have played big Vase games. So, I don’t worry about us from the big game point-of-view.”

The Hoops’ red-hot form has left them in a close title race.

King said: “Every manager will tell you that they would rather have points on the board, than games in hand. Games in hand don’t give you any points. You actually have to go and win them.

“People might say ‘They have four games in hand’ but, ultimately, we’re still five points behind them (Faversham). If we lose the game on Saturday and their quality shines through, we’re eight points behind them.

“I would much prefer to be eight points clear of somebody than have those games in hand.

“But we want to win the title and it’s become more of a realistic aim for us now. I’ve spoken a lot previously about our points totals.

“Looking at how other teams are taking points off each other, I think that the number I thought would be needed to win the league has probably been lowered.

“I was thinking mid-90s. Unless somebody goes on an absolutely stonking run now, it’s probably only going to be mid-to-high-80s - maybe 86 or 87 could be the number to win it.

“That gives us a chance. There’s teams like Whitstable that have squads that can go and win 15 or 16 games on the bounce.

“Just look at what Phoenix did last year. Every week, we won, Phoenix won. Between us, we both went on ridiculous runs for the last 15 or 16 games of the season.

“If someone goes on that sort of run - including ourselves - I think they’ll win it.

“But the way it’s looking is that everyone is taking points off each other so I’m not quite sure what the number will be. That means we’re, obviously, in the title hunt.

“We got 80 points last year. We have two extra games this year so, if we can sneak above 80, I think we will be pretty close.”

A goal in either half by captain Kane Smith and midfielder Billy Munday was enough as the Hoops saw off Bearsted in front of a crowd of 507 at the Charles Sports Ground.

King reflected: “We played really well.

“As expected, the pitch was pretty difficult. We’ve had a lot of games called off recently so it wasn’t the easiest. But against a decent side, I thought we controlled the game from start to finish, with a clean sheet.

“That’s three on the bounce and we got goals in each half. It turned out to be another great day.”

Skipper Smith has struggled to get fully fit this term. He returned to Deal’s line-up, though, with Alfie Foster having picked up a knock the previous weekend at Rusthall.

“I’m delighted for Kane,” King enthused. “He only got through 70-odd minutes and then, as expected, he started to tire.

“But he’s the captain of the football club, he has led the group all the way through - even when he’s not been playing - so I’m really pleased for him.”

Deal also kept another shut-out against the Bears but King warned: “We still have work to do on that.

“I always think the team that wins the league - the vast majority of the time - they have the best defensive record. That’s not us at the minute. If that’s one of our ambitions, we have got to keep working on that.

“So, (the recent clean sheets) are certainly something that has pleased me.”

The Hoops have injury doubts ahead of their trip to Faversham but King added: “Certainly no one is ruled out completely, including the boys who missed out last Saturday.

“We have been on such a good run, did the job on Saturday and had a good night afterwards, so I just want the boys to enjoy their Christmas.

“Then, come Thursday morning, we’ll focus on the job in hand.”