Nikki Bull is reverting to the formula that served him so well in transforming Margate from relegation struggers into Vanarama National South play-off possibles.

The Hartsdown Park boss has looked to adopt a more attacking approach in recent games, but three successive defeats has prompted a tactical change ahead of the visit of Oxford City on Saturday.

He said: “We are going back to basics, what we did when I first got the job, which was making ourselves hard to beat.”

Oxford arrive in ninth place, one place and one point behind Gate, with two games in hand.

Bull watched them lose 3-2 at home to Maidstone on Tuesday night, and said: “They were second after the first 15 or 16 games, but have probably lacked consistency.

“Maidstone are very effective and able to grind out results and did so again.

"The two other teams capable of doing that are Ebbsfleet and Sutton, that’s why they are the top-three in the league.”

Gate’s dip has led to a flurry of views appearing on forums about Bull and the club’s fortunes, but he says it won’t deter him from his approach to the job.

He said: “We mustn’t forget we were second bottom in December with only 17 points.

“Nobody expected us to go on the run we had and it has certainly raised expectations.

“Football is all about opinions, what people say is this and that. Having been a goalkeeper for 15 years I have needed to be thick-skinned.

“I have a tunnel-vision approach to the job and where I want the club to go.”

Bull watched two other games this week, continuing to keep tabs on possible future transfer targets.

Meanwhile on-loan Gillingham striker Greg Cundle is set to make his home debut against Oxford.

Luke Moore is set to return after missing two games with an ankle injury.