Interim joint-boss Reece Prestedge concedes Margate have to improve defensively.

Isthmian Premier Gate, beaten 4-0 on Saturday at Horsham, have shipped 15 goals in four matches since Prestedge took temporary charge alongside captain Ben Greenhalgh.

It’s something they will look to address ahead of Saturday’s trip to Bognor Regis.

“Since we have taken over, I don’t think we have had any luck,” said Prestedge.

“We’ve had eight injuries within the first two weeks. That’s not ideal in any managerial situation.

“You look at it and think ‘When will we get a bit of the rub of the green?’.

“But you look at Saturday and there was a better all-round balance to it [the team]. Unfortunately, we just had a mad 17 minutes at the end of the game where we capitulated.

"It’s criminal. Somehow, we have to stop that.

"Thursday training will probably be a lot of defensive shape. We’re looking to get someone in as well, just with more experience.”

Margate were just 1-0 down at Horsham for much of the game before the Hornets added a second in the 73rd minute and two more late goals compounded their misery.

Prestedge reflected: “It was probably the most frustrating game for us.

“For long periods in that game, we were the better side. At 0-0, we hit the post and had one cleared off the line.

“Then we let a really bad goal in from a corner. Dan Jinadu, our goalkeeper, has been brilliant for us and 99 times out of 100 he catches it. But this time, he didn’t.

“After the goal, it took us five or 10 minutes to get our control back. But we were moving the ball well and creating.

"Unfortunately, it got to 73 minutes at 1-0 and I think we just collapsed.

“I wouldn’t go as far as to say we didn’t start, but we didn’t finish our chances at the end of the day.

"Defensively, we weren’t good enough.”

Playmaker Nathan Wood made his Gate debut in West Sussex after he joined from National League South Tonbridge and Prestedge was pleased with what he saw from the 23-year-old.

He said: “He was calm on the ball.

"He made a lot of good decisions and definitely will be an asset for the team. We’re pleased with signing him.

"He was one of the main ones we wanted and we’ve got him in.”

The loss at Horsham came after Margate fell to a controversial 4-3 defeat against Whitehawk last Tuesday in their Velocity Cup quarter-final.

Ex-Gillingham midfielder Billy Knott came on in the second half for his debut but then had to come off with a hamstring injury.

Indeed, he was one of two home players on the deck at Hartsdown Park as the visitors broke away at the death to score the all-important seventh goal. Earlier, Greenhalgh had netted twice for Gate while their other effort came from an own goal.

Prestedge said: “Defensively, again, we weren’t good enough. But how you can win a game like that, I don’t know.

“We had a player down in the box, holding his head - the lino’s flagging.

“Billy Knott has gone to kick the ball out of play and his hamstring has gone. So he tried to kick it out but it didn’t make it.

“Their whole bench is saying ‘Play on’ and then it’s three versus one.”

Experienced former Football League man Knott counts Bradford and Sunderland among his other old clubs.

Prestedge, who expects Knott to only be sidelined for a week or two, said: “He is, obviously, experienced.

“He has played at a lot of levels these lads would love to play at. He was getting the boys going and helping the players out.

“That’s what you want - players going out of their way to help the youngsters.”

Weekend opponents Bognor - like 16th-placed Margate - are flirting just above the relegation places.

They met in November at Hartsdown Park when the hosts won 2-0.

“For me, it’s a must-win game,” said Prestedge, whose team on Tuesday will host Bowers & Pitsea.

“Bognor have always been a good side.

"They have always been neat and tidy, they always keep the ball moving. It will be a tough game.

“But this is the fight we’re in at the moment - we need three points.

“We played them not too long ago, to be honest. So it’s fresh in our mind how to stop them from playing.”