Ebbsfleet United captain Tom Bonner says top-of-the-table Oxford City clash is perfect game to put things right
Published: 00:00, 06 November 2015
Updated: 06:27, 06 November 2015
Captain Tom Bonner believes a top-of-the-table game against Oxford City is the perfect fixture for Ebbsfleet after last weekend’s defeat.
Leaders Fleet are five points clear of second-placed City going into their National League South clash at Stonebridge Road on Saturday (3pm).
Boss Daryl McMahon criticised his side’s defending in a 3-2 home defeat by Wealdstone and Fleet want to set the record straight.
Bonner said: “The boys were devastated after the game.
“We don’t want to let in three goals in any game and to concede the way we did is a wake-up call that we’ve got to be on it all the time.
“Before Saturday we’d defended really well but we weren’t quite on it and Wealdstone punished us.
“Oxford is the perfect game for us after a disappointing result.
“To be playing the team second in the league is the best possible game for us to get back on track. If we get a positive result, it’s all looking good again.”
Oxford and their collection of Spanish players are the league’s surprise package.
And their record of five wins and a draw from seven away games is bettered only by Ebbsfleet.
Bonner said: “To be fair, I wouldn’t have put them up there. I didn’t know much about them at the start of the season but we’ve had them watched and they sound like a really good team.
“They’ve got four Spanish lads, which is quite unusual at this level of football, but they’re holding their own with the physical side of the game.
“I’ve played against foreign players before and they’ve given as good as they’ve got.
“They’re well aware of the physicality of English football and I think they will be well up for the game.
“It’s a big game but there’s no major significance in terms of the league at this stage. We just want to get back on track after Wealdstone.”
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Craig Tucker