More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Manager Mitch Brundle praised his new-look Dover squad’s “bouncebackability” as they came from behind to earn an opening-day point at home to Torquay on Saturday.
Whites conceded twice inside the opening 20 minutes against one of the National League South promotion favourites before frontman Zidan Sutherland pulled one back and Roman Charles-Cook equalised at Crabble midway through the second period in the 2-2 draw.
“It’s a fantastic start to the season,” reflected 28-year-old Brundle. “But we don’t want to get too carried away.
“We had a game-plan.
“When they’re 2-0 up, you sort of think ‘Ooh, what’s going on?’ But we went in at half-time and saw we were creating problems, but it was just sloppy errors for the goals.
“The way we changed at half-time, we showed real bouncebackability. I know I’ve got that in the dressing room now.
“It’s hard to see if we have got that in pre-season because the games don’t mean anything. But to come from 2-0 down against a top side in this league and draw 2-2, that’s a fantastic result.
“It’s brilliant for the football club. There’s lots of things being said around the football club at the minute.
“I’m just glad that we’ve managed to put a little positive on people going home - you see them all smiling, applauding us off, because they saw the work-rate that we put in from start to finish.”
Chevron McLean had a nightmare start to his competitive debut for Whites, the defender scoring an own goal inside the first five minutes. But he recovered well amid their fightback.
Brundle said: “He just didn’t move his feet.
“Some of these boys, they’re going to make mistakes. They’ve got to learn from them quickly to stay in the team, but that’s the type of character you want.
“You can make a mistake in your first game for the club - four minutes in he scored an own goal - and some players could fold. But thankfully, he didn’t.”
Even having got back to 2-2, Dover were almost denied a point, only for on-loan Bournemouth keeper Billy Terrell to make a fine save to deny away striker Brad Ash in stoppage time.
“Fantastic,” said Brundle as he also explained why Charles-Cook, a full-back, started in midfield in front of right-back John Oyenuga.
“He’s got a bright future. If he keeps his head down and works hard, he’s got a brilliant future ahead of him - like most of the players in this team.
“All I ask for is 100 per cent work-rate, desire, determination, and I had all of that today. Even though we were losing at one point in the game, they gave me everything.
“You could see we had people going down with cramp and stuff late on in the game - people like Roman Charles-Cook, who was absolutely outstanding. By trade, he’s a full-back but John Oyenuga one versus one is one of the best full-backs in this league.
“So I just thought I’d push Roman forward because, as a wing-back, he’s been frightening in pre-season. He’s got such power, runs past people like they’re not there, so I just changed it up.
“We hadn’t played that shape before but, after watching the Torquay bits and snippets, I just thought that would be our best way to go.”
Brundle also explained why ex-Ebbsfleet and Maidstone midfielder Iffy Allen came off in the first half.
“He’s got a tight hamstring,” said the boss, supported on the sidelines by scout and friend Errol Johnson.
“It was more precautionary, he hasn’t pulled it or anything. It’s just a slight bit of tightness.
“It’s unfortunate for him. First half, his work-rate was phenomenal and that’s why I think it’s gone.
“But hopefully, we don’t lose him for too long because he’s a vital part of my team.”
Dover face Slough, beaten 2-1 at Maidstone on Saturday after having defender Dan Bayliss sent off in the second half, in their first away league game of the 2023/24 campaign next weekend.
