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Ebbsfleet’s results will continue to improve if they cut out their mistakes.
That’s the verdict of assistant boss Ian Hendon after Fleet bounced back from Saturday’s horror show against Barrow with an impressive 3-0 home win over Barnet on Tuesday night.
Not only did it show the squad’s character, they also kept their first clean sheet of the season in the process.
“We’ve been a bit sloppy in games and that’s what really has been affecting us,” said Hendon.
“We’ve been making mistakes and getting punished for them.
“We didn’t do that against Barnet and what was more pleasing for me was that we got a clean sheet.
“We prided ourselves on that towards the end of last season when Garry (Hill) and I came in. We had a fair few and to go 13 games without one is a tough one to take.
“But we defended well – as a team not just as a back four.”
Fleet have switched between three and four at the back already this season in a bid to find the right combinations.
It was a back four against Barnet with Jamie Grimes featuring at left-back – but Hendon insisted that doesn’t mean this formation is now set in stone.
“At the minute it is horses for courses,” he said. “We had an idea of how they were going to play. I watched their game over the weekend against Halifax, Garry saw them against Aldershot last week and you devise a plan and a system you are going to play.
“You just hope the players go out and stick to what you ask, and that’s what they did.”
Ayo Obileye kept his place in the centre of midfield and repaid boss Garry Hill’s faith by scoring the third goal.
Obileye has been under close scrutiny from some sections of the Fleet support, with many believing he would perform better in defence.
“We’ve all had stick as players over the years, I don’t think it’s just Ayo this season,” added Hendon. “He tries hard, he is a good pro and he works hard.
“I’m pleased for him and I’m pleased for everybody. It’s been a good performance and a very good result.”
The win also eased the pressure on Hill, who admitted after the weekend defeat that his position could come under question.
Hendon said: “I get it in the ear as well, don’t think I go along behind him. I get my fair share, that’s football.
“He is the manager at the end of it. He never shies away from anything and he’ll take it on the chin. The stick he gets is part and parcel of being a manager.”
Lawrie Wilson and Myles Weston both came off with leg injuries but should be fit for Saturday’s trip to Wrexham, who also find themselves in the bottom four.
“We know where we’re going now,” said Hendon. “We’ve got two tough games on the road.
“If we put that work rate and ethic in, then we will compete with anybody in this league.”
