by Andrew Gidley

Ebbsfleet are set to embark on arguably their hardest sequence of games of the season so far with five of their next seven Blue Square Bet Premier matches away from home.

A trip to basement club Bath on Saturday is followed by a long midweek trek to leaders Fleetwood next Tuesday, with visits to Gateshead, Luton and Darlington to come in the next month.

Boss Liam Daish (pictured) was disappointed by Fleet’s FA Trophy defeat at York on Tuesday but believes his side need at least four more wins to almost guarantee their Blue Square Bet Premier survival.

He said: "It’s always tough on the road in this league, we know that but we haven’t been bad on our travels so far this season.

"We will prepare for every game in the same way."

The Fleet face a busy spell, with a twice rearranged home game against Wrexham to come, while last Saturday’s postponed meeting against Alfreton has also to be fitted in.

Midfielder Michael West is recovering after a hernia operation on Monday. The Fleet midfielder hopes to be back in action in about three weeks.

Keeper Preston Edwards has been named in the England C squad for the International Challenge Trophy against Italy at Fleetwood on February 28.