Deal Town boss Steve King insists they will be big underdogs at Southern Counties East Premier Division leaders Faversham Town this Saturday despite nine-game winning run

Manager Steve King insists in-form Deal will be big underdogs at frontrunners Faversham this Saturday.

The Hoops’ 2-0 weekend home win over Bearsted was a ninth consecutive victory - during which they have kept three straight clean sheets - and they have incredibly lost only twice in their last 20 games.

Fifth-placed Deal are five points behind the Lilywhites with four Southern Counties East Premier Division matches in hand.

But King said: “We go in as big underdogs. I know we have been on a good run but, if you look at their squad on paper, it’s the strongest SCEFL squad that I have ever seen.

“On paper, I think it’s stronger than the Chatham and Sheppey squads from a couple of years ago. They have players with Football League experience.

“Most of our players have been with us for five or six years and played when we were a mid-table SCEFL side. On paper, it looks like there will only be one winner but we have got nothing to lose.

“We have put ourselves in a good position in the league already. I make them favourites.

“There will be a big crowd. They have an experienced management team and experienced players - but we don’t mind being underdogs.

“We don’t get it very often now, other than the odd Vase game. But we spent years being the underdogs, trying to upset the odds.”

Deal have enjoyed some recent strong FA Vase runs. They have also strengthened in the last two seasons, signing forwards Aaron Millbank and Rory Smith.

“We have got players that have played in big games,” King admitted.

“Rory Smith and Millbank have played in play-off finals in the division above - and won them (with Herne Bay).

“We have played big Vase games. So, I don’t worry about us from the big game point-of-view.”

The Hoops’ red-hot form has