Nick Davis is confident Hythe Town’s fortunes will change as they set about halting a run of league defeats.

The Cannons had a man sent off for the second week running on Saturday, with captain Lex Allan dismissed in a 2-1 home defeat by Eastbourne Town.

Sammi Takaloo cancelled out the visitors’ first-half opener but when Allan saw red for pulling down his man, Eastbourne scored from the free-kick and left Reachfields with the points.

It was a fifth successive defeat in Isthmian South East for Hythe, who have slipped into the bottom four for the first time this season.

But boss Davis has seen enough in their performances to think better times are ahead once they have a settled side.

“We deserved something again on Saturday,” said Davis, who is looking for a new assistant after Steve Whitton joined Hollands & Blair at the end of last week.

“I can’t fault the players’ efforts in the last few weeks.

“We’ve been really good without getting anything.

“Our luck’s got to change sooner rather than later. You’d like to think it will.

“There’s a long, long way to go and if we keep putting in the performances, we’ll be fine.

“Riley Court got injured in training on Thursday and Michael Aziaya had a family issue, so we had a couple not available, which left us a bit short.

“We’ve not been able to have the same XI or the same 16 but I believe that, once we’re in a position where we can do that, then hopefully we’ll start to reap the rewards and pick up results.

“I’m confident we will but, it’s like anything, things take time.

“I don’t think we’re a million miles away.”

The Cannons’ task doesn’t get any easier with a trip to promotion-chasing Sittingbourne next up this Saturday (3pm).

It’s a return to Woodstock for Davis, who played for the Brickies and had three spells as manager.

“I spent a long time there, probably longer than anywhere I’ve been,” said Davis, who hopes to have a new signing in place.

“It’ll be good to see people but it’s a tough game and we’ve got to do what we can to try and get something from it.”

Hythe visit Deal in the Kent Senior Cup second round on Tuesday (7.45pm).