Caretaker boss Josh Wright admitted he wanted his side to look “a lot more like Ebbsfleet”.

Wright took charge of the Fleet’s goalless draw with Aldershot on Tuesday night, a little over 24 hours after manager Danny Searle was sacked following the club’s winless start to the season.

The 34-year-old certainly got a response from the team. His starting XI included eight players who featured for Ebbsfleet last season.

“There was a set-up planned and things in place after the weekend because that’s how Danny (Searle) and his team were, they were well prepared,” explained Wright.

“Did I tweak some stuff? Yes. I’d like to say it was my team, it was my bench, it was my squad and substitutions, it was my call along with a bit of advice from here and there.

“The shape we played, we’d gone away from. Having Rakish Bingham back is big because he links the midfielders to Dom Poleon or whoever that forward is so that was key.

“I just felt that we can be solid with the back four that we’ve had the last few games but we’re a little bit more front-footed with three at the back and the wing-backs.

“It’s what I’ve known, and what we’ve all seen for the last few years at Ebbsfleet United - it’s what Ebbsfleet are. It just gives us that little bit more attacking impetus.

“That’s not to say Danny wouldn’t have played that shape tonight as there were plans in place. I wanted us to get back to Danny’s team last season if that’s what you like, but the way Ebbsfleet have been for the last few years and what I’ve known. That’s what we showed.

“Yes, there could be more quality but I thought there was a lot of quality and we opened them up well at times and created a lot of chances. My only criticism was I thought we could have hit the target a lot more because we had so many opportunities.

“But we’re a little bit low in confidence, we haven’t had that many shots in the opening seven games before tonight. I know that might sound stupid, ‘you’re footballers and you know how to shoot, you do it in training’, but when you’re out there and you tense up and are fearful of missing a chance and being the one who wastes the opportunity, you can snatch at a few things.

“But that will come in terms of hitting the target and scoring goals. We just looked a lot more like Ebbsfleet.”

Wright certainly had an impact in the short time he had with the squad, speaking to the players individually and collectively.

It’s clear to see how much the club’s current predicament is weighing on his shoulders.

“I think in football when things are difficult you can work on the training ground and do a lot which, don’t get me wrong, is vitally important,” said Wright.

“But it’s the other side, the man-management and getting players running through brick walls for you and digging in, putting belief back in, giving them confidence and making them realise they are very good professional footballers.

“That’s maybe what we’ve suffered with recently, we’ve lost our way and we’ve felt low. We felt like we’ve struggled and not been ourselves.

“That’s what I’ve tried to put back into them. I’ve done a lot with my voice; I’ve tried to guide a lot as a group but also individually. I’ve spoken to them on the phone, spoken in person, spoken in little groups and just tried to galvanise and pull us together. I hope that’s what we saw in the performance.

“I’ve been hurting, I’ve been disappointed. It’s been disastrous and it’s been a very tough time, a really tough time and I want to be involved in putting that right.

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“I think that was a big step and I want to play a massive part in all aspects around the place.

“Damian Irvine (chief executive), the owners and the fans, I’ve got so much time for them - I just want to win for them.”

Ebbsfleet host Hartlepool this Saturday at Stonebridge Road as they seek their first win.