Dover boss Andy Hessenthaler admits his players have no choice but to bounce back after Saturday’s disappointing televised defeat at Barnet.

Whites could have moved out of the National League’s bottom four with a win, but after a decent first half at the Hive Stadium, conceded twice without reply to suffer their first defeat in five National League games.

They remain in the relegation zone and ahead of back-to-back holiday derbies with fellow strugglers Maidstone Hessenthaler says they have no time to feel sorry for themselves.

The teams meet at Crabble on Boxing Day before heading to the Gallagher Stadium for the return on New Year’s Day. Whites also have a big home clash with leaders Leyton Orient on Saturday, December 29.

Hessenthaler said: “The biggest thing for us now is how we respond to the disappointment. Good teams bounce back and that’s what we’ve got to do come Boxing Day.

“We’ve put ourselves under pressure now so we’ve got to bounce back from that. We know we didn’t reach the standards we’ve been showing, which was disappointing in front of the cameras.

“There’s a few home truths been said, we know we’ve got to be better and I think the players know that as well.”

Dover’s defeat ended a four-match unbeaten run – three of which had been wins – and Hessenthaler says his players should not lose sight of that fact that they had been playing well, when they face Stones at Crabble (kick-off 3pm).

He added:” We can’t let the Barnet defeat affect us, if it does then we’ve got a problem haven’t we?

“We’ll talk again on Monday, with the players, we’ll reassess it and we’ll think about what was said in the dressing room and what we’ve done and we’ve got to pick a team to try and win the game.”

Only two points and two places separate the two sides, and Hessenthaler says being at home for the first clash probably makes Whites favourites.

He added; “It’s always good the Christmas period, you get better crowds, it’s going to a feisty affair I’m sure and one we’ll look forward to.

“Being at home probably puts a bit of pressure on us but we’re probably just favourites.

“They’ll look at us and maybe think we’re playing Dover at the right time, but they might also think they’re going to have to bounce back so hopefully that will be the case. That’s what we’ll talk about, we must bounce back against Maidstone.”

Hessenthaler may have midfielder Jai Reason available for selection after he missed the Barnet game with a groin problem, and the Whites boss admitted he may make changes.

He added: “I said that to them in there, there’s no one comfortable in their position. They have been because they’ve been performing but today we dropped those standards.”