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Dover Athletic boss Mitch Brundle warns players to keep their feet on the ground as six-match unbeaten run ends with 3-0 home National League South loss to Cheshunt

Manager Mitch Brundle is warning Dover’s players to keep their feet on the ground.

They extended their unbeaten streak to six matches - their best run since the 2018/19 season - on Saturday with a goalless draw at home to Bath in National League South.

Dover's Jake Goodman proved a big miss as they lost 3-0 at home to Cheshunt on Tuesday night. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Dover's Jake Goodman proved a big miss as they lost 3-0 at home to Cheshunt on Tuesday night. Picture: Barry Goodwin

That run has seen them ease any lingering fears of relegation, while they also hadn’t conceded since last month’s 2-1 win against Eastbourne - only to come back down to earth with a thump with Tuesday's 3-0 loss to struggling Cheshunt.

Dover had looked the more likely to score against Bath, but nobody could find a way through.

Asked if such results are sometimes needed to ensure his troops don’t get carried away after the Bath match, Brundle said: “Maybe results-wise, but not that sort of performance.

“It’s a real learning curve for us, especially me as a manager.

“I get frustrated with these results. I could be really disappointed and really critical, but we always have our feet on the ground.

“You’re only two weeks away from being dragged back into it. So we’ll just move onto the next one with a positive mindset.”

While goalkeeper Stuart Nelson had little to do against Bath, Brundle praised the veteran’s organisational skills amid much-improved defensive displays from his team, prior to the Cheshunt defeat.

He said: “He has been absolutely fantastic. Four clean sheets on the bounce and his organisation from the back to the front is fantastic.

“He’s a very experienced professional and, to be honest, I love him. He does everything right.

"He does everything you could ask of a player. And he’s there to help. I’m 13 years younger than him but, any time I want to speak to him, I can speak to him. He’s been absolutely fantastic.

Dover boss Mitch Brundle
Dover boss Mitch Brundle

“He’s kept us in loads of games. With his experience, people listen to him.

“As a manager, you can say so much from the side but it’s also having players you can trust, and he trusts the team in front of him now.

“It’s a team that’s working hard and showing desire, commitment and passion. He’s one of those people that just demands that.

“If you do everything to the best of your ability, he will never question you.”

Youngsters Freddie Oliver and George Nikaj both missed the Bath match after knocks in last Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Havant, Luke Wanadio scoring the game's only goal.

But promising midfielder George Wilkinson has now recovered from a knee problem.

“Freddie rolled his ankle and it’s quite inflamed,” explained Brundle, whose side are at Chippenham this Saturday and remain 14th.

“We had to make three changes that were enforced [against Bath].

“Would I have made a couple of changes from Havant? Probably, because every team you put out will win certain games and lose certain games, and certain players are better suited to play against certain teams.

“Hopefully, they’re not out for too long. Nikaj has a slight calf injury. But we’ve got Wilkinson back in now.

“No one wants to miss a game at the minute."

On-loan Crystal Palace defender David Boateng could come back into contention for the Chippenham clash after a spell out while centre-back Jake Goodman proved a big miss against Cheshunt.

Young defender Andi Janjeva, formerly of Watford, was an unused substitute.

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