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Ebbsfleet’s Will Wood says that the players were the first to criticise their own performances after Saturday’s defeat to Havant.
Fleet’s 3-0 loss in National League South was a third successive home game that they have failed to score – albeit coming either side of an enforced two-week Covid outbreak absence.
The game was played behind closed doors but the squad didn’t need supporters at Stonebridge Road to tell them their display was below-par.
“If you were in that changing room then you would have heard the lads,” said Wood
“Everyone is so disappointed. There’s people getting told home truths in there.
“We’re lucky that we have a game on Tuesday and hopefully we can put it right.
“That was not acceptable, we know that, everyone knows that and it’s up to us to put it right now.
“What you’ve seen out there, no-one is hiding away from the fact that we didn’t have a good game. I don’t think any of us had a good game.
“If we have five or six players not performing then you’re going to lose, and especially conceding the way we did then it’s not acceptable.”
Fleet manager Dennis Kutrieb criticised the part his centre-backs played in two of Havant’s goals, and Wood agreed that they can’t afford to give sides a helping hand.
“It’s not that we’re not trying,” he added. “I think it will come, we’ve got to be more solid at the back and more fluid in attack.
“Top teams score goals like that, they don’t have to score the perfect goal but they will score. We need a bit of luck, we’re working hard and the fans can see that.
“A lot of lads have never really played this way before. We said it’s going to take time but hopefully it will pay off.
“In training during the week it is so tough, we’re really put through our paces. I don’t think any other team will work as hard as us. Hopefully as the season goes on that will show.
“The way that we conceded the goals off rebounds and a scuffed shot maybe you know it’s not going to be your afternoon.
“It will come, I believe that it will, and we will tear teams to shreds - it’s just a matter of time.”
Wood was Fleet’s best player as he lined up in an unfamiliar right-midfield role.
He revealed that the switch came after it was felt that he and Bobby-Joe Taylor were making too many similar runs down the left wing.
“We were getting in each other’s way a little bit,” explained Wood. “Bobby is probably more of an attacking player than me naturally but we’ve found a way to get round that.
“We’d play some good stuff in training but then when we get into a game it just didn’t really happen. I’ve switched sides and I worked hard during the week to cut inside and use my right foot.
“Early on I nearly scored and on another day that one goes in. I really enjoyed it because I can drive at people and cut in on my left but I can also go the other way on my right as well to throw people off.
“I’ve played in a number of positions already this season, centre-back, left-back, right-back as well. Anywhere the gaffer puts me, I’ll put in a shift and do my best.”
