Sittingbourne joint-manager Jim Ward is unconcerned by his side's poor start to the season.

Brickies suffered their fifth defeat in six games at Faversham on Bank Holiday Monday, despite playing 70 minutes against 10 men. They also lost key defender Ollie Gray to a dislocated shoulder, which is set to sideline him for up to eight weeks.

However Ward is backing his side to overcome their early struggles ahead of their FA Cup preliminary round tie at Combined Counties League outfit Chessington & Hook on Saturday.

He said: “We’re languishing down the bottom of the league but we’re playing well. That’s not me looking through rose-tinted glasses. I can’t keep saying it’s early days because all of a sudden it’s Christmas, but our problem is scoring goals and we’re working hard to put that right.

“We’re passing the ball well and creating plenty of chances. Someone’s going to get battered one of these days.”

Brickies also have problems in defence following Gray’s injury while left-back Ashley Ulph has been released – as threatened by Ward – after his red card at Merstham earlier this month.

Ward said: “Ollie’s a massive loss to us. He went in for a slide tackle and his shoulder popped out. He’s a fit, young lad but he’s looking at six-eight weeks out.”

As for Ulph, who was also sent off twice last season, Ward added: “I’d rather keep what was said in-house but we’ve released him. He’s a good player but he’s a liability."