Manager Harry Watling says Ebbsfleet’s FA Cup performance at Maidstone was completely unacceptable.

Watling took the display as an insult and felt fans were right to make their feelings known after Fleet lost 3-0 to their National League South opponents in the fourth qualifying round.

“It’s hard to find the words when it’s so raw after the game but that was completely unacceptable,” said Watling.

“That wasn’t a team that reflects anything I’m about as a manager, or my staff, so I’m really disappointed.

“Maidstone were very clinical and simplistic in their game plan. They put balls behind us, they ran after it, they showed better effort and enthusiasm than we did, which is the basics.

“I’m not discrediting that at all, I think it’s an important thing that you need in terms of those ingredients.

“We didn’t have those ingredients today.

“It’s the most important thing, it’s the biggest thing you take as an insult, and they have to take it personally that they didn’t show those basics.”

Fleet fans made their feelings known at half-time and full-time, while there were also chants of ‘you’re not fit to wear the shirt’ towards the end of the game.

“I think any feedback we’ve got today from our supporters was fully deserved,” said Watling.

While Watling was convinced Aaron Blair’s early opener hadn’t crossed the line, that didn’t excuse the defending in the build-up, and things went from bad to worse.

Antony Papadopoulos added the second before half-time and Blair scored again after Maidstone broke from a Fleet corner.

“I’ve loads of issues with the first goal - loads,” said Watling. “Take the decision away from it for a second, we’ve let the ball bounce twice in our box.

Report: Maidstone 3-0 Ebbsfleet

“I’ve watched it back, it’s not a goal, it’s not in, but the ball’s bounced twice in our box and we’ve given the referee a decision to make whereas we should have cleared it.

“The second goal is another really poor goal to concede and then the third one is just us not following basic set-ups of what we expect from a set-play, people out of position and they go up the other end and score.

“We have to assess really quickly, we watch it back as staff and players, we have honest conversations, people need to show some accountability, and then we go and attack the league.”

Ebbsfleet may be struggling in the National League, sitting seven points from safety after 13 games, but they’re still a level above Maidstone.

And although Watling pays little attention to talk of favourites and underdogs, Fleet didn’t help themselves.

“To respect Maidstone, they were fantastic in the competition last year, so they’ll have taken great belief from the run they had,” said Watling.

“I’m not a big one on favourites and underdogs, it’s a game of football.

“You make yourself the favourite by your body language and your intent, and you make yourself the underdog with the same things as well, if you’re second to things and you’re not getting after people.

“That’s how I see it.”