Dennis Kutrieb won’t get carried away after win at Maidenhead United as Ebbsfleet United boss expects more twists and turns in National League relegation battle

Ebbsfleet manager Dennis Kutrieb has warned there will be more ups and downs in the months ahead as they battle relegation.

The Fleet produced a much-improved display to win 1-0 at Maidenhead on Tuesday night and move themselves out of the National League relegation zone.

But there’s still plenty of work to be done if they are to avoid an immediate return to Step 2 football and Kutrieb won’t get carried away when his players pick up points.

“That’s our job,” said Kutrieb, who came in for plenty of stick from Fleet fans following last Saturday’s poor display at home to Hartlepool.

“Obviously if we lose, we get abuse and if we win, we can celebrate and get praise. That’s just how the game is.

“Our team now understand we have a relegation battle and that means we’ll win some games and lose some games, and that will go to the end of the season.

“If someone expects that now we’ll win all our games, that’s totally wrong. Everyone would love it but it’s the wrong approach. We need to stick with these boys as they will leave everything on the pitch.

“There will be days like Saturday when we go home totally disappointed, similar to me, and angry about a 1-0 defeat.

“But we are getting closer, I thought it was a bit of an unlucky defeat as it was a wonder strike that went in via the underside of the bar. At Maidenhead, Mark Cousins tipped their shot onto the bar.”

Ebbsfleet returned to their favoured 3-5-2 formation and showed plenty of positive intent at Maidenhead.

Kutrieb agreed there was a clear improvement in their performance.

“It was much better going forward,” he noted. “We tried to create, we tried to play football in the right areas at the right times, not too dangerous and not too sloppy.

“We were composed and mature,