Ebbsfleet boss Garry Hill hopes a clear-the-air meeting with his players could kickstart their season.

The squad had their day off cancelled after a dreadful performance saw them beaten 2-1 at home by Aldershot on Saturday.

There was plenty of straight talking during a two-and-a-half hour meeting on Sunday and Hill got the response he wanted.

Ebbsfleet showed plenty of fight during Tuesday’s Kent derby against Dover and left Crabble with a 1-1 draw.

“We went through a great deal,” said Hill. “The players had their chat, home truths, the right way, constructive. It was a very good meeting.

“I didn’t need to be in Sunday, I was meant to be out for dinner on Sunday afternoon but that went up in the air – not the dinner, that day out – but that’s how it goes.

“It affected other people, one or two people had a christening and other things but it’s across the board.

“Anyone who plays under me knows I don’t hide and I don’t shirk.

“I’ll always be down the line with you but I need players to be down the line with me and Ian Hendon and the football club. That is what I want, game in, game out.

“There’s a lot of difference between coming in on a Sunday and having Sunday off so we’ll see how we go.”

Ebbsfleet host Eastleigh on Saturday still searching for their first home win of the season.

But they’re now level on points with Chesterfield and just two behind Barrow, so it’s all to play for towards the bottom of the National League.

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Hill said: “It wasn’t acceptable on Saturday.

“I would never cane my players, I’m there to defend them because I signed them but those supporters would have been proud of their team on Tuesday – and they deserve that.

“As I said to the players, when (the fans) work Monday to Friday and they do overtime and it’s not easy out there, and you have to pay £17 to walk through a turnstile and see what you saw on Saturday, it’s not acceptable.

“We’ve responded and that’s three results out of four. We know it’s going to be a battle but if we keep building and we get two or three wins, all of a sudden you’re going in the right direction and that car’s moving quite quick.”

Alex Lawless and John Goddard missed the Dover game through injury but should be in contention to play some part against Eastleigh.

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