Dover manager Andy Hessenthaler insists any negative voices won’t distract them this season.

Hessenthaler’s side sit 18th in National League South after an indifferent start to the campaign.

They’ve already played five of the current top six in the first 10 games but that’s not seen them exempt of criticism from some sections of supporters.

“I’m always enjoying it but it has been difficult [lately] and I’ve come under a lot of criticism,” said Hessenthaler.

“I think there were three people at the Weymouth game and all I heard was ‘Hess out’ from the first whistle to the last whistle.

“If they want to spend their hard-earned money to come to Weymouth and just shout Hess out, then it’s up to them.

“It won’t affect the team, it won’t affect me and it won’t affect the players. We’ve got a good dressing room and it’s starting to come together now.”

Dover have won three games so far but they responded well to their FA Cup exit at Ebbsfleet, winning at Weymouth and then picking up a deserved point against Welling.

“We’ve got 13 new players and it takes a little bit of time to gel,” admitted Hessenthaler.

“We’ve come to a team that were on a really good run in the league, they drew with Havant before, and we went toe-to-toe with them.

“I’d like to have more wins and perhaps we’ve deserved a few more wins in terms of our performances but we recognised that we’ve got to stop conceding goals.

“Long may it continue that we are hard to play against as I think we’ve got the creative players to score goals and create chances.”

Dover’s new-found defensive resolve has coincided with a change of formation. Even without injured centre-back Jake Goodman, Dover still fielded three at the back against Welling with Jordan Higgs and Mitch Brundle impressing in unfamiliar positions.

“We’ve looked at it, worked on it and tried to find a way to get clean sheets with the group of players we’ve got,” said Hessenthaler.

“The three at the back suits them, we’ve got the outlet of going long but against Welling last week we moved the ball around, especially in the first half, and looked to find the openings. We’ve got good players.

“I think we’ve been doing that in a different shape and have come unstuck. We’ve been counter-attacked on and conceded too many goals.

“We thought if we stick another centre-back in there it would suit this group of players, and I think it has at the moment.

“I don’t think we’ve been too open, it’s been a case of recognising danger when we’re in possession and organising each other.

“I think perhaps that extra body at the back, with either Mitch Brundle or Jake Goodman in the middle, it gives us that extra bit of insurance if the ball is turned over as we’ve got that solidity at the back.

“It suits us with our wing-backs as well. Alfie Paxman looks a good wing-back, I think that’s his position, and Myles Judd will run all day.”

With performances and results moving in the right direction, Dover will look to build on that promise when they host Braintree at Crabble this Saturday.

Higgs will miss out through suspension after collecting his fifth booking of the campaign at Welling, and Hessenthaler admitted that’s his main worry.

“My only concern is that we’re picking up bookings so I’m a bit nervous about what that brings,” added the Dover boss.

“We’re still stretched if we pick up injuries and suspensions, that worries me. We haven’t got a massive squad and our depth is the younger players but they had a spell in the team last year in the league above so they know what it’s about and we won’t be afraid to put them in if need be.”

Dover have been drawn away to Walton & Hersham in the FA Youth Cup Third Qualifying Round, having beaten Ebbsfleet 5-1 last Wednesday.