Ebbsfleet United manager Dennis Kutrieb addresses defensive shortcomings in Gateshead defeat ahead of home game with Kidderminster Harriers

Ebbsfleet manager Dennis Kutrieb has reminded his side not to lose their attacking mindset.

The Fleet have had a mixed start to life in the National League, winning two and losing two of their first four games.

They went down 4-1 at Gateshead last weekend, unusually giving away some cheap goals when conceding possession cheaply.

There was also a blunder by keeper Mark Cousins that helped the hosts go ahead early in the second half, although Kutrieb was keen to point out that there was a collective responsibility.

“It was a very good game of football, very technical and not so much intensity,” said Kutrieb.

“We got punished for easy mistakes which we’ve rarely made before but on the day we just made too many.

“We’ve already spoken about it, we did a video session. At the end of the day, Mark Cousins with the second goal was just the last instance.

“We could have done much better five, four, three or two passes before - that was just the last little one. We obviously did the biggest mistake then but we could have done much better before because initially, we started on the halfway line.

“We broke their press, going from the right to the left but instead of going forward, we went back to the keeper. That’s already the mistake where we need to get better.

“If you don’t need to go back to the goalkeeper, then don’t do it. As simple as that. We’ve addressed it and the boys are positive. It won’t happen often so maybe from that point of view it’s out of the way now.

“If you want to score a goal, you need to go forward anyway. There are times, and the boys understand it very well already, that you need to go back but if it’s not necessary then we don’t want to go back. In this case, it was not necessary to go back. We want to go