Ebbsfleet manager Dennis Kutrieb appreciated the home fans after their defeat to Havant on Saturday.

The Fleet suffered their first defeat of the season in National League South after shipping two early goals.

But the Stonebridge Road faithful gave them a tremendous ovation after the final whistle even though their second-half display failed to reap reward.

“I agree with them,” said Kutrieb. “I said to the boys, I can’t criticise them apart from the first 10 minutes as we played a good game.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a manager of the team or a fan, if you see a good game you need to give them the reward because they played good. The effort was good, it was a big shift but at the end of the day it only matters if you get points or not and we didn’t get any.

“I’m happy and I think our fans are sensible and open-minded - that’s lovely to see. They tried to help us on the pitch and that’s what we need, we need a strong bond between the players and the fans, they can help us get the ball over the line. I’m happy that we have such good fans to help the players.”

Despite Fleet’s attractive display on the ball, particularly in the second half, Kutrieb couldn’t hide his disappointment at gifting Havant a two-goal advantage so quickly. He knows that points matter - especially in the big matches – and it doesn’t matter how you get them.

“Havant are a strong side with good individual players,” said the Fleet boss. “They have a different approach to us but it’s not wrong or right. It’s winning your games.

“If you have a gameplan with a different approach and you get the points then you’re the deserved winner. I could see they will be in the play-off places or promotion spot because they have a good side.

“We are good as well and when we find the right keys to do it better and improve.

“We need to realise in every game you can play nice football, nice patterns but you want to have the three points. If they are a nasty three points, a good three points, at the end of the day it doesn’t matter.”

Ebbsfleet are away to Hampton in the league this Saturday, kick-off 3pm.

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