Ebbsfleet manager Daryl McMahon has challenged his players to take more responsibility on the pitch.

Fleet host Gateshead in front of the live TV cameras this weekend having made a mixed start to their National League campaign.

A record of four wins, two draws and three defeats has them sitting two points outside the play-offs and above Saturday’s visitors on goal difference.

Their squad is the envy of most clubs in the division but so far Ebbsfleet haven’t got into top gear.

McMahon said: “When you go in there and look at the array of players we’ve got, I think we need to take a bit more responsibility on the pitch and be a bit braver sometimes.

“We concede goals that are errors from us. How many teams have come to play against us and got the better of us in the sense of dominating the game and having chances? There isn’t anybody.

“I’d rather somebody come and beat us. I don’t think anyone’s really beat us yet.

“We’ve been the architects of our downfall in a lot of games and we’ve got to learn.

“We’ve got a strong group and I’ve got no doubt we’ll be there or thereabouts by April or May.”

Fleet are three points better off than they were at this stage last season.

McMahon said: “We probably over-achieved last year by getting to the play-offs which means we’re a team to watch this season.

“But we’ve adapted to that pretty well. We’ve attacked every game with the intent to win it and we can argue we’ve been unlucky in every game so far.”

McMahon must decide whether to reinstate Danny Kedwell and Andy Drury to his starting line-up against Gateshead after resting them in midweek.

Both came off the bench during the second half of Ebbsfleet’s 1-1 draw at Dover.

“We’ve got to manage their minutes,” said McMahon. “There’s no point flogging them.

“We need to make sure that when we have them on the pitch, they’re at the level they need to be at to perform at this level.

“By chucking them at every single minute of every single game, it’s not going to be good for them or us.

“Both of them are 35 and have played eight games in a short period of time.

“I said to them ‘it’s better I’m resting you than dropping you.’

“Both have performed pretty well so far this season and I’ll do it game by game.”

Dave Winfield (hamstring) is a doubt for Saturday’s game, which kicks off at 5.15pm, while Ebou Adams and Myles Weston are on international duty with Gambia and Antigua & Barbuda respectively.