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Ebbsfleet United boss Dennis Kutrieb says his side set the standard in National League South when it comes to goals from open play

Ebbsfleet manager Dennis Kutrieb believes no one can touch his team’s scoring ability from open play.

The Fleet scored a brilliant team goal to set them on the way to three points in a 2-0 home win over Chelmsford on Tuesday night.

Ebbsfleet goalscorer Rakish Bingham closes down Chelmsford's Kai Yearn on Tuesday. Picture: Ed Miller/EUFC
Ebbsfleet goalscorer Rakish Bingham closes down Chelmsford's Kai Yearn on Tuesday. Picture: Ed Miller/EUFC

And Kutrieb claims they’re leading the way in National League South when it comes to scoring goals from open play.

“We’ve already scored a few [like the one against Chelmsford],” said Kutrieb. “I can remember when we scored the goal against Dover when we had 36 passes before it ended up in the back of the net.

“There are no stats but I would bet everything I have that we are the team with the most goals from open play, not set-pieces or transitions, by far.

“Even when I see the goals that we concede, there are not many from open play. Most are from a goal kick, a throw-in, corner kick, penalty or transitions where we lost the ball.

“Open play is the most difficult to score a goal from in football and that’s what we do very well. It helps when teams press us as that gives us space behind.”

The Fleet’s opening goal against Chelmsford was a move started by keeper Mark Cousins, twice involved Josh Wright and ended with Rakish Bingham’s clinical finish.

It was a perfect DNA goal of the way Kutrieb wants his team to play out from the back.

“It’s can’t be any better,” noted the Fleet boss. “We played out from the back, go through the middle with Josh Wright, go on the left and switch the play, still have the composure to have an extra pass in the box and then a great finish from Raks.

“There can’t be a better goal for me, it’s well-worked out and perfect. I like to see it if it’s possible.

“You could see that under pressure they can still do it. I’d like to see it every week but it’s not possible because it depends on certain moments, awareness from players, confidence, composure in the right area.”

Cousins had a shaky start to the game with misplaced passes and clearances - but Kutrieb says the experienced keeper is still getting used to how the Fleet want to play.

“I said at the beginning of the season, to adapt to the style of play we want to have will take a minimum six months,” explained Kutrieb. “You could see he is trying and trying, sometimes he doesn’t try because he’s not used to it.

“But that’s fine for me as the most important thing is that we don’t make a stupid mistake to concede a goal. I see with other goalkeepers, even in [the] Premier League sometimes, they try to play out, they make a mistake and concede a goal.

“Because he’s so experienced, he tries to go long or sometimes even out of play, but that’s 100 times better than lose the ball and we concede a goal so I’m fine with that.

“We said it takes six months, we’re nearly there and you can see the team goal started with him and we’ve had other goals where he’s passed the ball out.”

Kutrieb was also pleased to welcome back Wright, who featured for the first time since the end of September.

His return is well timed with midfielder Craig Tanner ruled out for the rest of this month, the Fleet boss confirming that Kieran Monlouis is also injured.

“I feel really sorry for Kieran,” said Kutrieb. “He always seems to play a few games and then is injured. Tanner is injured as well but I can’t tell you at the moment how long for, just that they won’t be involved in January, definitely.

“It’s a blow but it’s easier that Josh Wright is back. He’s a very important player for us.

“In the first half he did almost everything right. If I see his stats I wouldn’t be surprised if he has 90% pass accuracy. We need someone in the middle of the pitch who is not losing the ball, similar to Christian N’Guessan.”

Ebbsfleet visit Farnborough on Saturday before a trip to Dulwich on Tuesday night.

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