Manager Steve Lovell accepts Herne Bay must get better at adapting to playing on grass pitches.

Bay are surprise strugglers in Isthmian South East this season and are languishing just above the relegation zone in 16th with 20 points from as many games.

Of those points, 13 have been earned at Winch’s Field on their artificial surface while the rest have come on the road - one of which came in a goalless draw on Margate’s 3G pitch in late August.

Lovell said: “We have trouble when we get on grass pitches. I don’t know what it is.

“We’re very good on 3G pitches - like our one - but when we go away on grass pitches, we do seem to struggle a bit.

“But we have got to overcome that and put that right.”

Herne Bay’s adaptability will be put to the test once more when they visit Deal on Boxing Day (3pm).

“Whether it’s a psychological thing for our boys on not, I don’t know, but it’s something we have got to get over,” said Lovell.

“We have got to adapt to it - and adapt quickly.

“For youngsters growing up now, 3G pitches are just part and parcel of football. All the young kids that are coming in are used to it.

“For the older boys who are more used to playing on grass, that doesn’t really count anymore as such because 3G pitches are the way forward.

“There are still some teams that are playing on grass so we have got to adapt to it.

"That’s something we have got to overcome.”

Bay’s scheduled trip to Burgess Hill last weekend was postponed after a pitch inspection.

Lovell said: “It was disappointing because we wanted the game, we’ll have to go there in midweek now. But the fact is that I’ve got a few players out injured and it gives them a few extra days to get fit for Boxing Day.

“We did a training session on Saturday. It’s been a bit of a tough time because we’re losing players to injuries and we haven’t got the biggest of squads.

“But hopefully, by Boxing Day, we’ll have pretty much everybody back in contention.”

Herne Bay will take a healthy contingent to Deal before home matches with Littlehampton on Saturday and Margate on New Year’s Day (both 3pm).

“Our fans are great,” said the boss. “They travel everywhere to support us and they only want what’s best for the club - like all of us do.

"They’re a big part of the club and they’re very vocal.

“It would be lovely to give them what they deserve, really, although we do try every week to do that. People don’t mean to make mistakes, give goals away or miss chances - but that’s football.

“If we’re trying hard and giving everything, you cannot do anything about anything else. Our boys are a great bunch of lads.

“They work hard and one thing I’ll say is that they give everything every time they step out on the field.”

And vastly-experienced Lovell knows a productive festive period could help his side kick-start their season.

He said: “The Christmas period is important.

“From the four games over Christmas, if you can pick up three wins out of four, you’re back amongst the pack again. With 18 or 19 games still to go in the season, you have still got a chance of catching-up with the top six.

“But the reality is we just want to take it one game at a time.

“Hopefully, we get something out of the Deal game and then we can push on.”

While Bay have struggled to build momentum this campaign, eighth-placed Deal are on a three-match winning run and sit on the fringes of the play-off spots in their inaugural Isthmian South East season. They have plenty of attacking options, including former Herne Bay forward Rory Smith.

Lovell said: “They’re a good squad.

"They did well, going up last season. We played them in pre-season last year and they were excellent.

“They have done well and I think the league is getting stronger. There’s a lot more teams that are all vying for those top five or six spots. It’ll be a test.

“We have got Deal, Littlehampton, Margate and Erith over Christmas. None of these games are easy.

“Phoenix went to Ashford on Saturday and beat them [3-1], and Ashford had been on a good run. It shows anything can happen.

“It’s just about what team turns up on the day and, if you’re performing and playing well, you can get results.

“But there’s not much between a lot of the teams in this league.”