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Ebbsfleet United manager Josh Wright under no illusions as to the size of the challenge they must overcome to escape National League relegation

Ebbsfleet boss Josh Wright admits his side have a mountain to climb but insists they can only take it game-by-game.

The Fleet are 14 points adrift of National League safety with 17 matches left to play ahead of this Saturday’s trip to play-off chasing FC Halifax.

Ebbsfleet United manager Josh Wright is only thinking about the next fixture. Picture: Ed Miller/EUFC
Ebbsfleet United manager Josh Wright is only thinking about the next fixture. Picture: Ed Miller/EUFC

They missed another opportunity to get three points last Saturday when they lost 1-0 at home to newly-promoted Braintree.

“I’m not stupid enough to know it’s a mountain,” said Wright, who was given the unenviable task following the departure of Harry Watling in December.

“It’s a big points tally that we need to claw back but I’m just taking it game-by-game. I rarely look at the league table. I’m not stupid enough to know but I’ve seen it a few times throughout the season.

“I take it each game at a time because one win or a little positive run can spin it around. That’s what last Saturday could have done but it wasn’t to be so we’ve got more opportunities coming up to be able to do it.

“You have to claw onto everything you can get. We were four games unbeaten before Saturday, three in the league. I felt Braintree should have been another point but we have to keep building and trying to get that one result that can really spin this around.

“If we do get it then we have to keep looking forward and keep building the blocks. There’s always going to be setbacks in football. We’d just got ourselves going but it was a setback so we have to get going again.”

Little blame can be attached to Wright, who stopped playing to take over as manager.

Danny Searle endured a winless start to the campaign and while Watling won his first match in charge, Ebbsfleet’s struggles have continued throughout the season despite a constant flow of players.

Wright had added a much-needed defiance but they’re still struggling to produce moments of quality when it matters most.

“We’ve won one game all season so it’s obvious where we are as a group and where we’ve been,” said Wright.

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“I feel and everyone can see it, it’s as clear as day, that we’re in games now where we weren’t before. We’re so close to that win coming or another positive result, and we’ve shown that.

“All the hard work that’s been put in over the last couple of weeks we can’t let be undone by Saturday’s result. We were very unlucky that we didn’t get something.

“You’re talking about inches or moments in games, one or two bad decisions that have gone against us and cost us. We have to keep striving and it will come.

“The players won’t give in until it’s over. They know that while there are points to get, there’s always a chance. They will keep digging in and keep pushing.

“They are a good group and the mentality is right. As long as they give 110 per cent then we give everything a go.”

Asked if the Braintree match was a must-win game that the Fleet had lost, Wright responded: “They’re all big games now, you want to win every single game. When is there a must-win? I’m someone who needs to win every football game you play in so I look at it like that.

“It’s very frustrating as we should and could have got something out of it. We needed to get something out of it. It hurts but we have to use that hurt to lift ourselves.

“I think you saw again the endeavour, the hard work and the graft, and that we created some big chances to win the game.”

On this weekend’s trip to FC Halifax, Wright added: “It’s like any other game. We’ll have a good, hard week on the training ground. We’ll work hard, get the mindset right and go to Halifax, which will be a tough game.

“We go up there with the intention of winning. We’ve shown that we are turning it around, we’re in games and are a much more competitive outfit.”

Left-back Pape Souare will leave the club when his short-term deal expires at the end of January.

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