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Sport

Ebbsfleet United manager Harry Watling reacts to 2-2 draw at home to Wealdstone in the National League - and admits it’s now his team

By: Matthew Panting mpanting@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 05:00, 27 October 2024

Ebbsfleet boss Harry Watling has told supporters he won’t sugarcoat their displays – and he knows it hasn’t been good enough.

The Fleet needed late goals from Aaron Cosgrave and Kwame Thomas to rescue a point against fellow strugglers Wealdstone on Saturday.

Manager Harry Watling - won’t sugarcoat Ebbsfleet’s performances. Picture: Ed Miller/EUFC

It means Watling has picked up just one win from his first eight National League games in charge. With a number of new faces in the squad, the Fleet boss did admit it’s now “my team” that he puts out.

“I can’t keep coming to media conferences after games and speaking about what ifs,” said a brutally honest Watling.

“I want to be speaking about a brilliant performance, keeping a clean sheet, winning the game, and we’re not there yet. I’m with the punters, 100 per cent. I know it’s not good enough.

mpu1

“There are some managers who may sit here and sugarcoat things. It’s not in my vocabulary to do that. I take 100 per cent responsibility as it is now my team. We’ve been here for eight league games, it’s my team.

“We’ve managed to get ourselves five points which is not enough for where we want to get to. But we’re going to make sure we massively improve every facet of what’s going on here.”

After a first half lacking in quality, Ebbsfleet conceded two poor goals and needed a late fightback just to rescue a point from a game they had hopes of kickstarting their season.

It might have been a point gained given the circumstances but Watling was not impressed with what went on for the first 80 minutes.

“We can’t be celebrating drawing at home in these sorts of situations,” he stated. “We’ve got to translate what we’re doing Monday to Friday into Saturday and Tuesday night, and we’ve got to do it really quickly.

“The first half was a bit of a nothing game, the ball flashed across the box a few times and (we were) lacking that bit of belief to leave your space and go and run through the goal.

mpu2

“The two goals we conceded have been similar to use since I’ve been here so I’ve got to own that. They’re park goals and it can’t be deemed acceptable. I need my defenders to defend.

Report: Ebbsfleet 2-2 Wealdstone

“One thing I have to say about this group which I think they’ve proved, particularly at home is that their character is incredible. We were dead and buried on 80 minutes.

“We get a flicker of hope, then we get another goal and I just wished the officials had given us the time (to get a winner). There would have been something in there for us.

“I’m extremely disappointed to drop points at home in what was a massive game.”

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