Andy Hessenthaler says Dover will struggle to win another home game this season if they carry on playing like they did against Boreham Wood on Saturday.

Whites lost the National League contest 2-0 and Hessenthaler admitted he could not have complained if the margin of defeat had been heavier.

The Whites boss felt Dover were second best all over the park and says his players look like they have no confidence at all when they play at Crabble.

Sorba Thomas fired Boreham Wood ahead from the spot after 32 minutes, with Justin Shaibu adding the second just before the hour after Scott Doe had been robbed by Kabongo Tshimanga.

Hessenthaler, whose side have seven away league wins, said: "I just don't know where we're going to be honest after that.

"I've just said that, when me and the chairman were talking, we've served up some really good performances but we can serve up some absolutely awful performances and that was awful.

"They (Boreham Wood) were first to everything, first, second balls, they had more desire, they deserved to win the game, and could have won by more.

"I'm speechless really, it wasn't a shouting match or anything like that in there (the dressing room), but we can't serve that performance up.

"I don't know what it is at the moment, too many players are just too inconsistent and if you're inconsistent in any job you do, you're going to have problems.

"That pretty much sums it up we're just so inconsistent at the moment. Tough day to take really, I don't really know what to say."

The Boreham Wood defeat was already Dover's seventh in the league this season at Crabble where they have won just twice – against Wrexham on August 10 and Eastleigh on October 29.

• Dover Athletic 0 Boreham Wood 2 match report
• Striker the priority for Hess

Hessenthaler, whose side are down to 15th, added: "We keep talking about this home form, it's driving us mad but if we keep performing like that we won't win another game at home.

"Whether it's home or away, we've got to perform, we've been doing it away but at home we look like a bag of nerves.

"It looks like the players just can't handle that little bit of pressure when performances aren't that good."

Hessenthaler says he understands fans being frustrated and was aware of some murmurs among the crowd of 728 – Dover's third lowest this season at Crabble.

He said: "I don't blame them for moaning, we have to take that on the chin.
"I've been in the game a long time, I've been at clubs where I've struggled as a player and you get criticism.

"You've got to take that criticism because if you serve up that type of performance you're going to get it.

"You've got to be man enough to take that, the fans don't deserve that.

"We've got some hard work to do but you look at the table and we're still only six points off of the play-offs.

"That's how tight it is but if we continue those type of performances we're not going to be anywhere near the top 10."

Read more: All the latest sports news in Kent