Manager Andy Hessenthaler is urging Dover to show some character after what he describes as their worst performance this season at Barnet.

Relegation-bound Dover, still with only one win this season, lost 6-0 for the second time this term in the National League on Saturday.

The bottom side’s fate is almost confirmed - sitting 35 points from safety with 39 points to play for - and a second-half collapse at the Hive Stadium didn't help matters.

“We were nowhere near good enough,” Hessenthaler admitted. “Why that is, I really don’t know.

“We have been fairly decent in terms of making it difficult for the opposition recently. Whether it was because we were going to Barnet, and because of the position they were in (Dover didn't perform as well this time around), I don’t know.

“But that wasn’t the case at Aldershot (recently holding them to a goalless draw).

“For me, I think there were only two players that came out with any credit. They were the goalie (Adam Parkes) and Danny Collinge at right-back.”

Whites were 1-0 down at half-time before they shipped five more as they finished the game with 10 men.

Midfielder James Caton (hamstring) hobbled off after the restart, with Hessenthaler having made all of his substitutions. It is feared he is out for the rest of the season, too.

Eighty-eight Dover supporters travelled to London and the Whites boss added: “I think that’s the worst performance this season.

“Weeks ago when we got beaten by Grimsby, I said this type of result will probably happen to us with a lack of depth in the squad and a lack of quality at times.

“When the senior ones are off their game, it’s hard for the younger ones. But I didn’t expect that against Barnet - no disrespect to them.

"We just, completely, were not at the races.

“You can carry a couple of players but there were too many off their game. It was embarrassing.

“I felt for the fans. They clapped us off and I don’t think we deserved to be clapped off.

“All right, we did go down to 10 men. I made the decision to make some early changes and, unfortunately, that backfired.

“It was a difficult one with 30 minutes to go. We went back very disappointed and apologetic, really.

“Everybody knows our situation but we cannot keep talking about that.”

Hessenthaler admits they missed skipper Ryan Hanson at Barnet.

The midfielder underwent emergency surgery for a “non-football-related condition” last Monday after initially being taken ill at home.

Hessenthaler revealed he was one of the first to text after the match to find out what had gone wrong.

He said: “It was a bit worrying. He has had an operation, (but) it’s not long-term.

“He is a young captain for us. Since he has been the captain, he has been consistent. We did miss him.

“He is good at what he does. Getting more time at training would have helped us, but we were not able to do that.

“We are desperate to have Ryan back but we are pleased he is okay.

“Being a local lad, he was the first person to text after the game, trying to find out what had gone wrong. He is right behind the club.

“We are pleased he is going to be all right.”

A youthful Dover side were knocked out of the Kent Senior Cup by holders Dartford on Tuesday, losing 2-1, despite Luke Baptiste's late consolation.

Another tough trip awaits Whites this weekend as they play their re-arranged fixture at fourth-placed FC Halifax, having lost 3-1 in November to them.

Hessenthaler said: “It doesn’t get any easier when we go to Halifax. I think they are a very good side.

“We gave them a game at home but we lost. But we have just lost 6-0 so it’s about characters and going to Halifax on a fairly difficult pitch and putting a performance in.

“I have seen videos of the pitch, which is not great, which is why our game was postponed up there (the match initially was scheduled for Saturday, February 19).

“But we have got to have the right character and still try and aim to get out of the minuses.

“We are a young team but we have got to grow up, and try to finish off the season the best way we can.”

Arjanit Krasniqi (hamstring) and player-coach Reda Johnson (calf) may also be fit to return on Saturday.

“James Caton, we have lost him,” Hessenthaler added.

“It looks a bad one as well, to his hamstring, but it’s a case of assessing that at training.”