Ebbsfleet United manager Harry Watling taking stock of his players’ strengths and weaknesses but mixed results to start of his tenure have not dimmed self-belief

New manager Harry Watling has experienced a multitude of emotions during his first three games in charge of Ebbsfleet.

Watling has seen different facets of his squad but has stressed back-to-back defeats haven’t quashed any confidence in his ability.

“You learn something in every game,” said the Fleet boss. “When you lose a game people say you either win or you learn, but you learn when you win as well.

“I’m learning every day about not just the players’ ability but their character, mentality and personality.

“I’ve seen good, bad, indifferent, ugly, beautiful, everything in three games. But I’ve got to stress it is only three games.

“My beliefs and my enthusiasm are massively still there so I just want to keep making sure that I’m saying the right things to the players, I’m getting people on board, on the bus of where we want to get to.”

Watling also shed light on the non-introduction of Jephte Tanga against Maidenhead in midweek.

Tanga was stripped and ready to come on but the Fleet decided against making the change.

“We thought that Raks (Rakish Bingham) got a bump and I was a little bit worried,” said Watling.

Read more: Clean sheet ‘a big challenge’

“Again, the communication with the players is always open and I asked him if he was all right and he wanted to stay on. I didn’t want to take Raks off when we’re chasing a game of football.”

Watling added: “The fans at the two away games have been in good voice, they clapped the players off at Maidenhead which I thought, in fairness, was generous. I massively appreciate that.

“It’s a period we’re going through right now which is a period of growth so we need to go through it together and attack it.”

It’s successive home games ahead for Watling’s Fleet, albeit against sides currently in the play-off places. They host Oldham this Saturday (5.30pm) before Rochdale visit Stonebridge Road on October 5.

“Oldham are a big football club and we’ve got Rochdale after that who are also a big football club and good side,” said Watling.

“If we keep looking at the other team, we’re going to just be petrified about coming to work. It’s got to be about us and having a real solid base.”

Ebbsfleet play their first game in the new National League Cup on Tuesday night against West Brom under-21s (7pm).