We're still trying to find the perfect formula, says Dover Athletic boss Chris Kinnear

DOVER ATHLETIC manager Chris Kinnear says he wants to make Crabble a fortress.



The Whites are sitting in tenth-place in The Skrill South table with a 50% record from their opening ten league games.

They welcome AFC Rushden & Diamonds to Crabble in The FA Cup Third Qualifying Round tomorrow.

Their opponents lie in seventh-place in the United Counties League Premier Division, having won four and lost one of their five league games.

Kinnear told www.doverathletic.com: “The draw could have been worse, but we don’t want to be complacent.

“The FA Cup is massive and we will try and have a good Cup run, but to be honest I want to win every game and why can’t we?  We have decent players.

“There’s The FA Trophy as well, which is important. There is no point in picking games, we just want to try and win them all really.”

Kinnear says he wants to make Crabble a tough place for the Wellingborough-based outfit to come and play tomorrow.

He said: “A few of the lads have been tweeting saying they want to make Crabble a fortress and with these games at home, why can’t we make this a fortress?  It is something we are desperate for.

“I don’t like losing and am desperate to win as I care about the club.

“We only lost one league game last year and I’m not used to losing, but we have to be realistic.”

Reflecting on the club’s position in Conference South, Kinnear said: “The chairman kept telling me to be realistic as it’s a new side. We were not losing by many, but it’s about being realistic and not getting carried away when we win as well.

“We are a new team and it takes time and we’re still trying to find the perfect formula – there is still a lot of work to do even though litlte bits are fitting in and we are still evolving.

“We knew it would be a long term project and would not be instant. We are not Eastleigh who have bought all the top players in the league.

“A settled side makes a massive difference and the likes of Man United and Man City have not got it right yet, whereas Arsenal only added one player and are top of the Premier League!”

“We might be adding one or two others with one or two going out as well.  I have spoken to a couple of players and clubs and we will have to wait and see how it goes.”

Dover Athletic have scored eight goals in their opening ten league games, which is the third worst goalscoring record in the division.

Kinnear added: “I am disappointed we have not scored more this season, but there is no need to beat ourselves up about it as we have just won our last three and if wewin all our next home games we will be happy as sandboys.”

Visit Dover Athletic’s website: www.doverathletic.com

Dover Athletic  v  AFC Rushden & Diamonds
The FA Cup with Budweiser Third Qualifying Round
Saturday 12^th October 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Crabble Athletic Ground, Lewisham Road, River, Dover, Kent CT17 0JB