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Mitch Brundle believes Dover’s squad have had long enough to gel together this season now.
National League South Whites built more or less a completely new side in the summer – and have been active in recent weeks again, letting some go while new faces are set to join.
Having collected four points from their first two league matches, Dover look like they’ll be involved in a relegation battle again after that early-season optimism has started to dissipate of late.
That comes despite Brundle’s troops having played at Crabble on five out of the first six Saturdays this campaign - a run which ends in the league against Weymouth this weekend.
“You always want to win at home,” said boss Brundle, whose team have only won on home soil three times in 2023 in the league.
“It’s just a situation where it’s hard to put your finger on why they’re not scoring enough.
“The day we’re not getting the chances is the day when I’ll be a little bit worried. We just move on.
“Home or away, you have got to try and pick up points and put in performances. We’re a new group so we are going to have to learn quickly.
“But being a new team and all that stuff around being ‘new’, you can’t really use that as an excuse when you’re eight games in. I won’t be using it.
“Regardless of being a new bunch, we had enough chances to win on Saturday.”
Of those signed in the close season, Brundle saw two, forward Imran Kayani and midfielder Olu Durojaiye, depart last week as he aims to add to his ranks further.
He said: “I’m not sure on exact numbers but, if something becomes available that I’ve targeted in the past few months, I’ll try to get them.
“Obviously, I will have to do what I have to do to get them in. I have my targets but, at the minute, they’re not all available.
“I don’t just want to bring players in for the sake of it.
“I’ve got to make sure I get in what I want, rather than just filling gaps and adding numbers.”
Dover’s latest home game finished in a 1-1 draw against Chippenham on Saturday.
They had several chances to go ahead, only for midfielder Craig Fasanmade to put the away side in front with a fortunate goal in the second half before an own goal from striker Zidan Sutherland’s cross earned the hosts a share of the spoils.
Among those to be wasteful with the opportunities were 17-year-old midfielder Henry Young and substitute Luke Baptiste, 20, who had snatched a winner at Slough last month.
Brundle said: “I don’t think that’s down to age, I don’t think it’s down to inexperience.
“It’s down to having someone who puts the ball in the back of the net. Whether you’re 17 or you’re 29, if you’re in front of the goal, you’ve got to score.
“But I thought the two in midfield [Young and captain James Dunne] did well on Saturday overall.”
Midfielder Johl Powell signed in time to make his debut in Tuesday’s encounter at St Albans but couldn’t stop Dover from losing 2-0.
Whites have been drawn at home to Isthmian Premier Hastings in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round.
They beat newly-promoted Isthmian South East side Erith & Belvedere 2-1 in an FA Cup replay on Wednesday night after Sunday’s goalless draw.
Hastings’ player-assistant Craig Stone is a former Dover captain while 19-year-old defender Bailey Akehurst, formerly of Gillingham, netted the winner at The Pilot Field.
The Second Qualifying Round tie will be played on Saturday, September 16, when £3,375 in prize money will be up for grabs.
