Andy Hessenthaler has praised the Dover Athletic supporters as Whites aim to kick-start their season in front of their own fans.

Hessenthaler’s team are still yet to register their first win in the National League this season.

But there has been some cause for optimism in their uphill survival battle, with Dover earning their first two points this campaign in their last three matches.

They start a run of four matches at Crabble in five against Solihull Moors tonight, before their derby encounter against Bromley this Saturday.

The Whites manager said: “The fans have been good.

“They have got right behind the boys and the away ones are proper die-hard ones, aren’t they?

“We are all desperate to start winning football matches because everyone knows we started the season on minus 12 points.

“But we can take a lot of encouragement from the Chesterfield game and the performance on Saturday.”

Solihull Moors, managed by Neal Ardley, are next up for Whites, with the Moors eighth in the table and eyeing promotion to the Football League.

They won 3-1 against Boreham Wood last weekend.

Hessenthaler said: "When they have the likes of Adam Rooney on the bench, it shows what type of squad they have got. But we will dust ourselves down and look at getting three points.

"They have got some good players and a good manager in Neil Ardley, I have played against his sides a few times. They got a great result at the weekend.

"But Neil knows me and he knows we will be fighting.

"We will put a team out there and try to get a result."

Dover will look to build on their televised 1-1 draw at Weymouth last weekend.

“After the midweek defeat (at Eastleigh last Tuesday) we needed a response and, to be fair to the lads, they gave us a response,” he said.

“In the second half, we really had to dig in to get a point. We had an awful journey on the M20 which was not the ideal preparation.

“We didn’t get a stonewall penalty, and if it is given as a penalty then it’s a sending off, but these things are just not going for us at the minute. But the players are working for us.

“I have looked at the statistics from Saturday, and I cannot fault them.

“The boys are quite positive, they are upbeat. They are an honest bunch of boys.”

Koby Arthur's strike had put Dover in front at Dorset but the Ghanaian is now set for a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury. He is due to be assessed again tonight.

He is the latest player Hessenthaler will have to contend without with Travis Gregory, Ryan Hanson, player-coach Reda Johnson, Marshall Wratten and Will Moses all also unavailable.

Hessenthaler admitted: “It is tough at the moment but we cannot do anything about it really.”

But basement boys Dover did add to their squad last week, signing Junior Tiensia on loan from Millwall until January.

The 20-year-old defender played the full 90 minutes against the Terras.

“I was pleased with him, to be fair. He only had 45 minutes with us on Thursday at training before the game but he did well,” Hessenthaler said.

“Once he settles in, I’m sure he will get even better.”

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