Manager Keith McMahon is calling on Whitstable’s fans to get behind them ahead of a massive match at the foot of the table this weekend.

The Oystermen drew 0-0 at play-off chasing Burgess Hill last weekend, a result which ended a run of eight consecutive defeats - including a Velocity Trophy tie they had won on the night before being kicked out the competition for fielding an ineligible player.

They remain bottom of Isthmian South East but they are only seven points adrift of opponents Hythe who have also played one league game more than Whitstable, ahead of Saturday’s encounter.

“It’s a massive game, we know that,” stated McMahon.

“A win on Saturday puts us right amongst the pack.

“We are looking for a massive crowd to really get behind the lads.

“The ones who came on Saturday (to Burgess Hill) would have seen the difference. Hopefully, those that come this Saturday will see the same.”

Prior to Christmas, Whitstable went on a five-game unbeaten league run, including four successive wins, which looked to have got them out of trouble before their recent run of losses.

The Oystermen had started that winning run with a 3-0 victory at Hythe in November and Whitstable’s boss said: “We were where they are six or seven weeks ago but, suddenly, we got sucked in.

“Our home games are important. We have got quite a good away record, to be honest, but we need to pick up points at home as well.

“We won at Hythe and it started our winning run off.

"Hopefully, we can do the same again this weekend.”

• Whitstable player makes team-of-the-week

At Burgess Hill, the Oystermen returned to action with a battling performance after a two-week break.

McMahon reflected: “We played really well. We’ve worked hard the last couple of weeks, changing our shape and a little bit of personnel.

“The game could have gone either way but, overall, I think a draw was about a fair result.”

McMahon, who said he had his strongest squad at his disposal since he arrived at the club, also praised goalkeeper Dan Eason for his performance which saw him make several important saves.

He said: “Dan is a good goalkeeper. He made some good saves but so did their keeper.

“But we know how lucky we are to have Dan.

"We just need to take a bit of pressure off him and the defence - which we did on Saturday.”