Dover Athletic boss Mitch Brundle praises new-look squad’s willingness to take criticism on board as they aim to bounce back from a first loss at home to Braintree Town

Manager Mitch Brundle has praised the willingness of his new-look Dover squad to take criticism on board.

Whites earned a hard-fought 2-1 National League South success at Slough last Saturday.

There’s a long way to go, of course, but for a side tipped to have been relegated this campaign, four points from three league matches has been a decent start despite Tuesday’s derby 1-0 loss at Tonbridge.

“They’re all willing to learn,” said 28-year-old Brundle, speaking before their midweek defeat.

“Every single one is willing to take advice and criticism on board. That’s good because I’m always ruthless.

“Once you accept one bad performance, they think it’s okay to have another one.

“But people have written them off and it’s got a fire in their bellies.”

Brundle conceded Dover were slightly fortunate to leave Slough with the points after substitute Luke Baptiste struck the all-important third goal late on.

He suggested: “Getting a late winner is better than winning 3-0 because of the emotions and adrenaline it brings.

“It’s not good for me on the sidelines! But the crowd got to go home with that last-minute winner feeling.

“I don’t remember us doing it for a long time. It’s all been a bit doom and gloom in recent years but, hopefully, they can enjoy that winning feeling.

“I’m delighted for Baptiste as well.

“Hopefully, that does his confidence the world of good.”

Frontman Zidan Sutherland had broken the deadlock in Berkshire.

“It was a fantastic win,” Brundle reflected. “We rode our luck at times but luck comes your way if you work hard, and I thought we worked hard from start to the end.

“Was it a deserved win? I think a draw was probably the fair result - but you take wins however they come.”

Academy graduate Henry Young was a