Ebbsfleet United manager Harry Watling sees an opportunity to “flip the script” in two difficult away games.

Struggling Fleet are seven points from safety in the National League and last weekend lost 3-0 at lower-league Maidstone in the FA Cup, missing out on a place in the first round.

They visit third-placed York City this Saturday (3pm) and Forest Green, who are currently second, on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Few will expect them to get anything, so what better way for the division’s bottom side to kickstart their campaign?

“It doesn’t get any easier but we’ve got to show character,” said Watling.

“What an unbelievable way to flip the script by going to York and winning, going to Forest Green and winning.

“No one’s expecting us to do that, so what a great way to flip it round.

“I’ve got a group of guys that I need to be extremely honest with one another and it’s an opportunity for them now to show me they can bounce back.”

Watling won his first match in charge, beating Hartlepool 1-0 at Stonebridge Road.

Three successive league defeats followed for the new boss before fighting back for a 2-2 draw with Rochdale.

But a poor performance at Maidstone highlighted the task ahead for the ex-QPR and Rangers first-team coach as he sets about transforming Fleet’s fortunes.

“We’re finding out about people, finding out about characters, finding out about the club, finding out about the set-up, finding out all different things,” he said.

“I think the most important thing is to make those assessments as quickly as we possibly can and come up with solutions how to fix it, how to fix the leaks so the ship doesn’t keep sinking, find out where the water is escaping from and go from there.”

It’s rarely straightforward for a new manager to come into a club during a season.

Working with someone else’s squad presents its challenges but Watling won’t use that as an excuse.

He said: “I accepted the job and before you accept the job you appreciate that it’s not going to be your team, it’s not going to be your pre-season, they’re not going to have your fitness base.

“There’s going to be a lot of things you need to fix, so I’ve got my eyes completely wide open coming in.

“I’m not going to say I’ve been caught off-guard with anything, I expected it to be in the state, or around the state, that it’s in right now. My job is to try my best to fix it.”

That could involve new recruits, with Watling adding: “We’re always looking.

“I think when you have performances like that (at Maidstone), it gives you an opportunity to bring people in to freshen things up.”

Watling says “nothing has changed” on the injury front.

“It’s still quite a high number so we’re dealing with that as well, which is difficult, but hopefully there’s light at the end of the tunnel in the next few weeks,” he added.

Luke O’Neill, Lewis Page, Dominic Samuel and Toby Edser are among those on the sidelines.