Dover manager Chris Kinnear urged his players not to be downbeat after losing their play-off semi-final first-leg, claiming they can turn it around in the biggest game in the club's history.

Whites head to Forest Green Rovers on Saturday (7.30pm) having been edged out in a cagey game at Crabble on Wednesday night in a game of few clear chances which was settled by a fine finish from sub Brett Williams before half-time.

Kinnear admitted: "The performance wasn't great. There were probably some nerves in there, there shouldn't have been but it was probably the first experience of this type of game for the players.

"They're all young and ambitious and probably thinking 'we've got a chance to play in the Football League.' I know from experience you have got to apply yourself.

"It wasn't good but it's 1-0. Their keeper's probably had to do a bit more than ours, they had a couple of last-ditch tackles in the first-half. It could have been 2-1 to us at half-time.

"Even if it had been a draw we'd have had to go to Forest Green and win so that situation hasn't changed. We just have to get on with it. Why can't we win there?

"If we'd have been 1-0 up we'd have still had to go there and try and get a result, there's no point us sitting back.

"Our front three have been brilliant. It didn't click today but hopefully it will on Saturday."

Kinnear admitted there had been some long faces in the Whites dressing room and admitted: "They ought to feel a bit disappointed but nobody feels sorry for you in football - they have just got to grow up.

"If they want to progress and play at higher levels they have got to get over this disappointment.

"If we were out of it completely then they can have a good sulk, but we're not.

"We have done very well away from home. We have got the ammunition, hopefully the boys will be up for it.

We've got to get at them. Who knows what the score is going to be, but we've got a massive chance. We haven't lost the tie yet. I've seen it happen.

"We're not Leicester City but if you play with a bit of spirit you've always got a chance.

We're not out of the tie by a long chalk. We've been away to some big sides, we won at Tranmere and that wasn't easy with 8,000 people screaming at you.

"We're decent away from home, we'll not do anything different, we'll try and get at them, but (Forest Green) are big and experienced, there's players in there from the Premier League and Championship, every league going."

Kinnear claimed it would be unusual for Dover to play below-par twice in succession, adding: "It's not very often that we play not great two games on the trot.

"Maybe it's given the lads a bit of a shock, maybe they thought we'd be too sharp for them, but they were up for it, and we will be for Saturday.

"With the investment they've had and the players they have got, they were running away with the league for the first two or three months. They have got quality players.

"We'd like to think we have got spirit and we can get on with it. We have to not feel sorry for ourselves and go and give it a go. Whatever happens these players have done great for the club and for me.

"Saturday is the biggest game in the club's history. I don't think any of the players will have played at this level with the opportunity that they have got. It's pressure you have got to live with."