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Sport

Ebbsfleet United boss Daryl McMahon on the Kent derby at Dover Athletic

By: Steve Tervet

Published: 00:00, 28 August 2017

Updated: 05:18, 28 August 2017

Daryl McMahon knows what to expect when he takes Ebbsfleet back to his old club Dover.

McMahon played for Whites in 2012/13 before joining Fleet for £13,000 in June 2013.

He returns to Crabble as manager for the first time on Bank Holiday Monday to lock horns with his former boss Chris Kinnear in the National League.

Ebbsfleet boss Daryl McMahon Picture: Andy Payton

McMahon said: "It’s going to be a tough game. Having played for Dover, it can be an intimidating crowd for an away team when they get behind you and I’m sure they’ll get behind their side in a Kent derby on Monday.

"They’re a good side, a side that’s finished in the top six or seven in the last two years and they’ve got a manager who knows the league really well.

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"I’m sure he’ll know we’re a decent side and it’ll be an interesting game.

"I’m pretty sure of how Chris Kinnear will set up - and it’s difficult to play against.

"But we’re more concentrated on what we do to be honest. We have to impose our game on the opposition rather than worry too much about what Dover might do.

"We’re looking forward to it. Dover are doing well, I know they lost on Friday but they’ve had a pretty good start. They’ve got some very good players and as a Kent derby, I’m sure it’ll be another tough game full of blood and thunder.

Daryl McMahon playing for Ebbsfleet against Dover in the 2014 Conference South play-off final Picture: Andy Payton

"Our fans have been excellent, particularly away from home. The Dagenham and Maidenhead games spring to mind straight away and I’m sure they’ll get behind the players and all of us on Monday."

The game comes too soon for another ex-Dover player Dean Rance, who has resumed training after knee surgery but isn't match fit yet.

Sam Magri, who left Whites to sign for Fleet in the summer, also misses the derby as he's on international duty with Malta ahead of their World Cup qualifiers against England and Scotland.

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Just two points separate the rivals ahead of kick-off.

Dover, who lost 1-0 at Macclesfield on Friday night, won at Hartlepool and Halifax and have taken 10 points from their first six games.

Fleet's goalless draw at home to Gateshead on Saturday meant they still haven't lost a league game in 2017 although they've shared the points in five of their six matches since stepping up from National League South.

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