Ebbsfleet United manager Kevin Watson felt Saturday’s draw with Sutton United was the right result.

The Fleet had the upper hand in the first half but Sutton turned the tables after the break and deserved to share the spoils.

“I thought we played the conditions really well in the first half and it spun a little bit in the second half where Sutton did, so a draw was probably a fair result,” said Watsonn.

“I think six weeks ago we possibly would have gone on to lose that game but we’ve got a good group now and we batten down the hatches.

“We limited Sutton to a couple of free-kicks around the box and once when Jamie Grimes cleared it off the line.

“They didn’t have much else after that, we didn’t create an awful lot but first half we were value for our one-goal lead, if not two. At the minute we’re struggling to get that second goal and as we all know, we need wins. However, it’s a point gained.”

Both teams struggled on a difficult Stonebridge Road pitch, with players regularly struggling to keep their feet.

“The pitch is not helping things here but that’s the same for both teams,” added the Fleet boss.

“We have to play in a way I don’t particularly want to play in, which is to play in the opposition half to limit the risk of us conceding ground in and around our penalty area.

“Our explosive, powerful players, it’s very difficult for them to play, to even keep their footing.

“It looks okay from here but I can tell you it’s not. The surface is loose, it moves, it’s difficult to run and get away from people.

“It’s difficult in front of the new stand, it’s a wonderful stand at our level but it has had its pitfalls down this side of the pitch which becomes very heavy. When you’ve got wingers who want to run by people, it makes it difficult.”

Fleet are seven points away from safety but Watson knows that his team won’t be giving up without a fight – and is keen to get all of his players available as soon as possible.

“Kingy was back from injury, he was brilliant at Torquay, and Andre Blackman was back from suspension,” he said. “Unfortunately no Josh Payne, no Michael Timlin, Alex Lawless is a couple of weeks away. But all of a sudden I’ll have decisions to make, there’ll be players that won’t even be getting changed and that makes my job difficult but it also gives us the best possible chance of staying in this division.

“If you’re in that team, make sure you keep that shirt and you’re in it the following week. That pushes people and galvanizes people that are playing. There was no way I could have left out Tomi Adeloye after his heroics the other night – and he did okay.

“If we’re hanging on to the coattails of the teams above and we get these boys back then we’ll give it a right go, we’re not going to give up without a fight, that’s for sure.”

Fleet remain under a transfer embargo due to an unpaid bill, and that means no new faces ahead of next weekend’s FA Trophy tie against Royston.

“The situation is that the club’s dealing with it, that’s the best of my knowledge,” said Watson.

“(Director of football) Steve Lovell deals with that side and how that gets sorted out and as soon as they tell me he’s available, then you’ll see Michael Timlin in a red Ebbsfleet shirt which everyone wants to see.

“I’m a football manager doing the job to the best of my ability, as are my staff. The players are giving me everything, you can see that, and what goes on financially or whatever I have no input or say in it.”

• Report: Ebbsfleet United 1-1 Sutton United

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