Dover skipper Mitch Brundle says players must take responsibility for club's lowly position
Published: 00:00, 20 September 2018
Mitch Brundle says the time has come for Dover’s players to stand up and be counted.
Whites prop up the National League after picking up just one win from their opening 11 matches and skipper Brundle admits there’s no hiding away from the situation.
Dover travel to Aldershot on Saturday and the 23-year-old midfielder said: “We have to start getting points on the board, whether they are ugly wins or pretty wins, it doesn’t make any difference.
“We have to take responsibility, once we step over that white line, we’ve done everything throughout the week it’s all about us as players, those who are on the pitch, the subs who come come on, everyone who is involved
“If anyone’s going to sit down and sulk about it you’re never going to get results. In football, you have your highs and your lows, we’re on a low at the moment but we have to turn it around.
“We can only work as hard as we are. I wouldn’t put anything down to the fact that we’re not working hard or grafting in training.
“We’re there or thereabouts but there are still some fine margins between winning and losing.
"It’s all about having character and togetherness, fight and desire and that’s what we need within the whole group now.
“We’re in a tough situation. It’s about standing up now and being counted.”
Reflecting on Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to Solihull, Brundle added: “I thought for the first 30 minutes we were well in the game and maybe should have taken a few chances but we didn’t.
“At the minute the fine margins are costing us. It’s been the main downfall of our season, we concede, teams shut up shop, and we’re finding it hard to break teams down. It’s a tough time but you have to just keep going.”
Dover’s poor run has led to some speculation about manager Chris Kinnear’s position but Brundle says the players remain firmly behind their boss.
He said: “We have to just keep fighting and try to perform because the gaffer’s picking the team and we’re letting him down in terms of we’re not getting the results.
“We’re all trying hard and everyone in that dressing room will give their heart and soul for the gaffer because he’s brought all of us in.
“We have to be positive, it’s not going to just fall for you. You have to work hard for it, so we’ll keep doing that. The boys will keep fighting for each other because we’re a tight knit group.
“There’s no big egos in there. Everybody’s trying to fight for the same cause.
“We know the trouble we’re in now so we need to stick together more than we ever have done.”
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Mark Stokes