Jake Leberl has called on Dover to improve their home form to clinch an Isthmian Premier play-off spot.

Whites went seven games without a win at Crabble, including five defeats, before beating Bowers & Pitsea 2-0 a fortnight ago.

But they lost 1-0 at home to Chatham on Tuesday night, and need a performance when they host Dulwich Hamlet on Non-League Day this Saturday (3pm).

Dover have been in the top five all season but sixth-placed Carshalton, two points behind, are too close for comfort.

Boss Leberl anticipated a dip in form after a flying start to the season which saw Whites top the table.

But improved results in their final four home games should go a long way towards securing a play-off place.

“I always knew we’d have a downturn or hit a wall somewhere,” said Leberl, whose side occupy the final play-off spot.

“We had a lot of illness over Christmas, which I think played a part, and we had a bit of disruption with lads not being there.

“We also picked up a couple of red cards and suspensions, which coincided with Mitch Walker being injured, so I expected something but not maybe to the degree that it’s happened, especially at home.

“We’ve had some really disappointing results at home which then creates a bit of tension and this is where we find ourselves with seven games to go.

“It’s all about securing that play-off place.

“The teams below are on a good run of form.

“It’s all to play for and it’s exciting and we need everyone behind us.

“The reality check is, no matter what happens, we’ve had a rebuilding season, the club’s come together a little bit more, I just wish our home form was better.

“You’d rather lose away than at home, it would have galvanised everyone a little bit more if we were winning at home but, for whatever reason, it hasn’t worked out like that.

“Maybe we’re a better counter-attacking side.

“Clubs come to our place, it’s a big stadium, a good club and it just lifts you.

“Although the pitch hasn’t been great this year, I sense it when teams turn up at our place, it’s their big day out, they’re going to raise their game, so I think there’s been a little bit of that involved.”

Leberl was looking for a reaction against Chatham after a poor performance at play-off rivals Cray Valley on Saturday.

Whites didn’t get going in a 2-1 defeat, despite taking the leading through Ruben Soares,

They gifted Marcel Barrington an equaliser before Tom Beere scored the Millers’ winner.

“It was strange - really odd,” said Leberl.

“I said to the lads before the game I had a really good feeling about it.

“We’d had a couple of half-decent results and training was really good but it was just so flat.

“I said to the lads afterwards, only one of them won their personal battle, so we lost personal battles all over the pitch and got what we deserved which is a shame because it was an important game and nothing like how we’ve been.

“Even the games we’ve lost, we’ve been creating chances but Saturday was flat.

“I don’t know where it came from but it does happen occasionally.

“It’s the first time as a group that I’ve had to question them.

“They’ve been brilliant all season, even in the majority of the games we’ve lost they’ve competed and given it a right go.

“Every player has off-days. Normally two or three won’t be quite at the races and the others will drag them through it.

“I always say I don’t mind losing games but there’s a way to lose and Saturday, probably for only the second time, possibly third, that wasn’t how to lose a game of football.

“You lose a game of football when you’ve come off the pitch absolutely knackered knowing you couldn’t give any more.

“I honestly felt 10 of those boys could probably have played another 90 minutes.”

Dover academy captain Tristan Holden has been called up to the Gibraltar under-21 squad.

He’ll feature in a four-day training camp, which includes a match against Gibraltan National League leaders St Joseph’s.

“It’s really nice, it reflects well on the club,” said Leberl.

“Mike Sandmann’s done an unbelievable job with the academy.

“We’ve had some great boys coming through and hopefully there will be a conveyor belt in the years ahead, which is only going to help.

“The type of club we are now, with the chairman (Jim Parmenter) retired, it’s not going to be funded, it’s going to be self-funded with some half-decent sponsors, and we need these academy boys to come through and play a big part.”