Nikki Bull admits Margate will be big underdogs when they host title-chasing Sutton United on Saturday, but says he is not ruling out an upset.

Gate's 1-0 defeat at Weston-super-Mare last weekend was their eighth in a row, leaving them just three points clear of the Vanarama National League South drop zone.

But manager Bull says he felt there were real signs during that game that his players are returning to something like their best form and insists they are all still fighting for the cause.

Bull, whose team last won at Chelmsford, on February 20, said: "Saturday's performance was not too different to a number of the performances we put in when we were on our good run (Gate lost just one of Bull's first 11 games in charge).

"It was the sort of performance we produced when we beat Gosport and Maidstone (his first two games after succeeding Terry Brown in December).

"I couldn't fault the boys and the good thing for me was that after the game the dressing room was like a morgue.

"The players were so disappointed that we hadn't taken something from the game and that showed me how much they still care. If they didn't they would have just got changed and left."

Bull admits Gate have four 'cup finals' left to save their season, starting with the visit of second-placed Sutton, who beat them 4-1 at Gander Green Lane on February 27.

The Gate boss regards Paul Doswell's team as the best in the division, but says he has players in his squad who will relish the occasion.

He added:"Sutton are the best team in the league by a mile and have an unbelievable squad.

"Hand on heart we know we'll probably have to over perform and for them to underperform (to get a result) but we were second bottom when we beat Maidstone on Boxing Day so these things can happen."

Bull sprung a surprise by playing Matty Johnson and Nathan Green up front against Weston and he may well have to juggle his resources again against Sutton.

Defender Jake Goodman returns after serving his three-match ban but teenage striker Greg Cundle has been recalled from his loan spell by Gillingham, and both Christian Jolley (knee) and Nathan Green (ankle) are injury doubts.