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Ebbsfleet United boss Daryl McMahon says his team must score first against Concord Rangers on Boxing Day

Daryl McMahon knows Ebbsfleet must score first when Concord Rangers visit Stonebridge Road on Boxing Day.

The Fleet boss saw his team concede a stoppage-time winner at home to Bath on Saturday after failing to make the most of their early dominance.

All three of Ebbsfleet’s league defeats this season have come at home and McMahon admits there can be an edginess around the ground when his side are being held.

Ebbsfleet United manager Daryl McMahon Picture: Andy Payton
Ebbsfleet United manager Daryl McMahon Picture: Andy Payton

He said: "It’s becoming an issue at home that we need to score first to get teams to come out.

"As a group, we have that desperation at home, ‘we’ve got to score, the crowd want us to score.’ I don’t think it’s nervousness. They want to do well.

"Maybe it’s a lack of composure and we’ve got to do a bit more."

Ebbsfleet go into Saturday’s game seven points clear at the top of National League South while Concord are 12th, seven points outside the play-offs.

McMahon said: "It’ll be a difficult game, exactly the same as it has been against a lot of teams here.

"It’s going to be a team coming to defend, trying to get a set-play, to counter-attack us.

"That’s what it’s been all season. It’s not going to change. No-one’s going to come here and be open and expansive and try to take us on and I wouldn’t expect them to either.

"We’ve got to score goals and drive on because we’re good to do it. We’ve got an excellent squad here and I believe we will.

"We’ve got the players and I’ve got to find the right combinations, at home, to make sure we’re more effective."

Centre-half Tom Bonner starts a three-match ban on Saturday and midfielder Michael West (groin) is an injury doubt. Kick-off is at 3pm.

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