Sheppey boss Ernie Batten will be demanding improvements from his team after back-to-back defeats.

The Ites lost to Lordswood in the Southern Counties East League, Premier Division last Wednesday and at Cobham in the FA Cup on Saturday, both games finishing 1-0.

It wasn’t just the scoreline that bothered Batten, either, as his side underperformed in both matches.

He said: “We have had seven or eight players who haven’t been anywhere near their usual standards.

“If we play well with the players we’ve got then we have a good chance and on our day we can beat anyone, but not when seven or eight are way below it. You’ve not got much hope then.”

Sheppey travel to Beckenham on Saturday, a team who have strengthened over the summer and are one of the favourites to win the title.

Batten will at least have a couple of key men back, with defender Jono Richardson and striker Rob Denness available.

He said: “We’ve got two key players back and hopefully the other lads will get back to playing how they were a few games ago. If we do that we have a chance. The last two games have been a massive disappointment.”

Batten remains in the market for new additions, but is unlikely to have any in place before the weekend.

“We’ve got our fingers on the pulse,” he said.

“There might be players at the higher level not getting football who will start looking elsewhere and we could put a few seven-day approaches in.”

Sheppey were due to face Rochester United in a friendly match during the week to give minutes to those who needed them, including Denness. It was also a chance for Batten to have another look at forward Tapiwa Pama. He was on the bench at Lordswood last week.

Batten said: “He can play wide or the No.10 role and he looks good. We’ll have a good look at him.”

Sheppey are back on home soil next week, at home to Deal Town in the league on Tuesday.

Sheppey’s Roger Pullen was highly commended at the step 5/6 National Groundsman-of-the-Year awards which are run by the Football Association.