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Dover Athletic boss Chris Kinnear reacts to National League draw against Bromley

Chris Kinnear said he never lost belief in his players even when they trailed 2-0 at half-time against National League rivals Bromley on Saturday.

A disappointing first 45 minutes at Hayes Lane ended with Whites behind to goals from Louis Dennis and Jack Holland, a centre-half playing as a striker.

Kinnear immediately rang the changes, bringing on Anthony Jeffrey and debutant Ejiro Okosieme for Nortei Nortey and Loui Fazakerley, and, after Mitch Brundle had made it 2-1, Kane Richards, the third of Dover's subs, claimed an injury time equaliser.

Dover manager Chris Kinnear Picture: Tony Flashman
Dover manager Chris Kinnear Picture: Tony Flashman

Kinnear's team have failed to beat Bromley in four attempts this season, but the Dover boss was happy enough with a point on this occasion. It was sufficient to move them up a place to fifth in the table, four points behind leaders Sutton.

He explained: "We were disappointed (with the first half) but in saying that we were 2-0 down and they'd hit us on the break.

"They're a side that gets everybody back behind the ball and then hit you on the break, we knew that's what they were going to do and we should deal with it.

"We had the ball in their half probably more than they did in ours, but they were two bad goals for us.

"A lot of sides would have felt sorry for themselves but that's not the way of these lads, I'm proud of them. That's what they do the players, they just get on with it.

"At the end of the day I'm happy with a point, it's not easy playing on these 3Gs but I do understand why people have them, you've just go to get on with it."

Asked what the thinking was behind the half-time changes Kinnear said: "The thought was we might be able to get something out of the game, as simple as that.

"We have to make decisions and think about what we're going to do, we just changed it a little bit.

"Sometimes they (the changes) work, sometimes they don't but fortunately for us mostly they do."

Kinnear admitted he was delighted for scorer Richards, who he said has shown exactly the right attitude while he has been out of the starting line-up.

He added: "We're pleased for Kane, he's got the perfect attitude. He's not been in the side of late, he's disappointed by that obviously but he hasn't been sulking and we knew that if we brought him on, he would give 100%."

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