Nikki Bull is banking on Margate continuing their impressive transformation at Hartsdown Park when Chelmsford City come calling in Vanarama National League South on Saturday.

Under previous boss Terry Brown Gate took seven attempts to break their home league duck - finally doing so with a 4-1 win over Havant & Waterlooville on November 7 - but since Bull's appointment in December, the Blues have beaten Gosport (1-0), Maidstone United (1-0) and Maidenhead (3-2).

Gate will start the match 14th, just one point and one place ahead of Chelmsford, but the Clarets have gone seven matches without a win since a 5-0 victory at Hayes and Yeading on November 14 and Bull says that makes them vulnerable.

The Gate boss, who has taken 10 points from his first five games in charge, said: "As soon as the final whistle went against Maidenhead I started thinking about the Chelmsford game.

"I'm expecting a win on Saturday and if the players perform as they have been there's no reason why we shouldn't get it.

"I thought the first 45 minutes against Maidenhead were probably the best since I've been manager and we've worked hard on making ourselves harder to beat.

"We've compromised on some of the football but given where we were when I took over (second bottom), we've had to be more pragmatic."

For the visit of Chelmsford, Matt Johnson will play his first game since signing permanently on an 18-month deal from Ebbsfleet, and Bull believes the 25-year-old midfielder can make a real difference in the remaining 18 games.

He said: "It was good to finally get it (the deal) over the line. For as long as I've been here it's been a priority to get Matt's signature and I appreciate the help we had from Ebbsfleet in getting it done.

"Matt is very much the modern day midfielder and he has been a pleasure to deal with. It was never about the money with him. He put football in front of finances and that shows the sort of character we have signed."

Winger Sean Shields has returned to Fleet after his loan spell and while it seems unlikely he will be allowed to return, Bull says Gate will continue to monitor the situation at Stonebridge Road. The Gate boss did however say he remains largely happy with his squad.

He added: "When I look at the squad I've got there is not one player I don't rate or who I don't think can do a job for the club so I'm wary of disrupting things too much."

Gate did release former Cardiff City midfielder Solomon Taiwo this week, but defender Charlie Wassmer is available for selection after missing the last two games due to tonsillitis.