Welling boss Loui Fazakerley has defended his team's slump in form - by saying they are where everyone expected.

The Wings are in the National League relegation zone after a winless run that stretches back to mid-October.

They crashed out of the FA Trophy at National League South strugglers Havant on Saturday.

But Fazakerley responded: "It’s not as gloom and doom as everyone is making out because at the beginning of the season we were relegation favourites so we are where people expected us to be.

"But within the camp we expected to be higher up, and we put pressure on ourselves as we expect to do better than we are.

"People need to keep faith because if we win our games in hand then we will shoot out of the relegation zone.

"I don’t feel under pressure from above. I feel pressure from my own expectations. I want us to do better so we’ll continue to work hard and put healthy pressure on ourselves to improve things.

"We’ve done it before. We came in last season and turned it around, we had a bad start to the season and turned it around so I know we can do it. It’s just a matter of getting that first win and then the confidence will breed from there."

Many of Welling's travelling fans voiced their disapproval towards the manager at Havant and the Wings boss understood their frustrations.

"The fans are entitled to their own opinions and entitled to voice it," added Fazakerley.

"The frustrating thing for me is that they don’t see how hard we work and prepare for each game. We know how hard we’re working and they don’t seem to appreciate that.

"It’s understandable they are unhappy because results are not going our way and we’re not in the greatest league position."