Ebbsfleet United manager Dennis Kutrieb admits his team were mentally fatigued after 2-0 National League home defeat to FC Halifax Town

Ebbsfleet boss Dennis Kutrieb conceded there was a lack of belief during Saturday’s defeat to FC Halifax.

The Fleet have won just once in their last eight games in National League and sit three points outside the relegation zone.

It’s a far cry from the champagne, confidence-flowing football of last season on their way to the National League South title - and recent results have eaten away at that belief on and off the pitch.

“No-one really had the feeling that we were going to win the game, especially after we went 1-0 down,” reflected Kutrieb.

“I think even our fans were not really believing that we’d win the game once we went a goal down.

“We tried to get things right at half-time but we couldn’t get going over the whole game. The effort was there and we tried hard but we looked so fatigued, especially mentally fatigued.

“I think when I see the numbers from the stats and running, we’ll be alright, but mentally fatigued to do good and right decisions, to put the ball in the back of the net, to defend well, to make smart decisions like the opponent did.

“They got every single free-kick they wanted to have, we didn’t get anything. It’s not like the referee is so bad, it’s they do it smart and we don’t do it smart. That’s because we were mentally fatigued.”

It’s still a learning curve but the Fleet boss felt his team selection has been limited in recent games.

Normally, he makes five or six changes when faced with a run of matches in quick succession.

But Kutrieb named an unchanged side at Eastleigh last midweek and then made just two changes against FC Halifax.

“We can learn every single week,” said Kutrieb. “These seven games in three weeks has been a tough time to take.

“Usually, I’d say the squad is big enough and we