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Ebbsfleet United manager Dennis Kutrieb reacts to the 0-0 draw with Billericay in National League South

Ebbsfleet boss Dennis Kutrieb admitted his team created enough chances to collect three points on Tuesday.

The Fleet were held to a goalless draw by improving Billericay in National League South at Stonebridge Road despite a dominant second-half display.

Fleet defend a Billericay free-kick in the first half. Picture: Ed Miller/EUFC (53981264)
Fleet defend a Billericay free-kick in the first half. Picture: Ed Miller/EUFC (53981264)

It was Ebbsfleet’s first game after Covid and self-isolation meant the majority of their squad were unavailable for the postponed Boxing Day game with Dartford.

Kutrieb said: “We had enough chances. Of course they defend all together and try everything not to concede and throw bodies on the line, try to block shots and everything else.

“To be honest, they defended with 10 players in their own box, we found enough spaces and had enough chances but we need to score the goals.

“It doesn’t matter how many chances you have, when you want to win games you have to score goals.

“Everyone knows we’re in a tough period with self-isolation and Covid and we have to suffer.

“When you’re off a little bit longer and have to play a game very shortly it can look like it looked (in the) first half, a bit rusty. The second half was much better.

“Billericay was not Billericay from the beginning (of the season). They’ve had 40 players already involved and this team is much better, they’re very good and experienced players. Of course we wanted to win the game but it was tough.

“We had the same last season when we came back from the Covid situation, we had a tough game against Havant and we lost 3-0. Today it’s a 0-0, of course we wanted a better result but at least we had a clean sheet, we had enough chances to win the game.”

Looking at the bigger picture as the Fleet head into 2022, Kutrieb wants his team to continue their progress.

Not one for a new year resolution, Kutrieb believes their hard work will be rewarded at the end of the campaign.

“I’m not a big man for wishes, we just keep going and working hard,” he stated.

“Again today you could see that it’s not about lacking effort, it’s not about they don’t want to win or they don’t take it serious or think they can win easily. We had the same at Chelmsford, we had enough chances to score and that’s what we had today.

“When the boys are working hard during the next year then I’m not worried as you get the results over a period when you work hard and when you do it honestly. That’s my only wish (that) the boys keep doing what they’re doing at the moment or during the first part of the season. I’m happy because I don't take it for granted like I’ve said many times before.

“It’s always tough, it's demanding, they have to be on the front foot, they have to be composed, even in the first half you could see there were so many situations and occasions when we played out from the back and it was much better than a few weeks ago.

“You could see they improve every week and if the results are the right ones then we’re happy. Today we’re not happy because of the result but the way the boys played I can’t moan at them.”

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