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Ebbsfleet’s experienced players need to stand up and be counted.
Fleet boss Garry Hill is expecting more from his squad after they again conceded early goals in Tuesday’s loss to Torquay.
Fleet trailed within nine minutes and then let in two goals in the first nine minutes of the second half.
It’s been a familiar sight for the Stonebridge Road faithful and Hill wants his leaders on the pitch to take more responsibility.
“There are times in games you have to manage, whether that’s early or late, you have to manage them,” said Hill.
“I cannot manage players when they step over that line to take responsibility.
“What I am basically saying with the greatest respect is that there are enough leaders, enough experience, with players who have played at a higher level and been around the game long enough.
“People must have shaken their heads after 10 minutes of the second half and asked how has that happened like that?
“But you can’t in this league continue week in, week out, to be a charity by giving cheap goals away.
“We’re talking about experienced players in our back four. We’re talking 700 league games, you look at midfield players, because it’s not just the defence, at least 500 league games.
“You then look over a period of time and say to yourself, whether it’s at the start of the first half or start of the second half, you look at Halifax, Notts County, Barrow, Yeovil.
“They (all) punished us big time and you can’t give teams head starts. If you get two goals at home, no doubt about it, you expect to get some kind of result – at least a draw.”
Hill also revealed that it was his decision to replace assistant manager Ian Hendon with new first-team coach Kevin Watson, who left his post as Hungerford No.2 to join the Fleet last week.
“Ian Hendon worked very hard at the football club in respect of working with me,” said Hill.
“Sometimes relationships become strained, sometimes you make a decision to change it. I made that decision to change it."
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