Manager Nikki Bull insists there is no doom and gloom after Margate's fine run ended and says his side can still match the best teams in Vanarama National League South.

After taking 19 points from their past seven games, off-colour Gate suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Eastbourne Borough on Tuesday night which saw them lose ground in the race for the play-offs, having drawn level on points with the top five with Saturday's win at Chelmsford.

Bull admitted Tuesday's result: "was a reality check," but backed his players to bounce back as they travel to title-chasing Sutton United on Saturday (3pm).

He said: "It was disappointing to lose but we are not going to get carried away with the result. We have come a long way over the past couple of months.

"I'm the not the sort to have my head in the clouds after a win or go hiding in the woods after a defeat.

"When you win six out of seven then people will inevitably talk about getting closer and closer to the play-offs.

"I've said all along though that when all the other teams games in hand are said and done I think we're probably 10 or 12 points off the play-offs. The only thing we can control is our own results."

He added: "We have come a long way in a short time and all we are really looking to do is build the club and finish with as much momentum as possible to take into next season."

Bull added: "I've watched Sutton a couple of times and I think they are the best team in the division.

"They have a lot of quality players with Football League experience, and we will show them respect, but the game does not hold any fear for us, we have quality, experienced players in our dressing room too.

"We won at Ebbsfleet and did well against Maidstone, Dartford and Gosport - we have done well against sides at the top.

"If we turn up in the right frame of mind we can cause them problems. We are going there to win."

Brighton loanee Daniel Akindayini will undergo a scan on his ankle injury on Friday and Bull admitted he is unlikely to return before the end of his deal - though Bull not ruled out a new loan, subject to the striker's recovery.

Bull was working on other attacking targets this week, while he plans to talk to Jamie Taylor on Thursday night to establish whether he will return on loan to Eastbourne or remain at Hartsdown.