Nikki Bull is urging his Margate players not to allow things to drift and believes the last 10 games are massive for everybody involved.

The 4-1 defeat at Vanarama National South title-chasers Sutton United on Saturday was Gate’s heaviest away defeat this season, ending a run of three successive wins on their travels.

Boss Bull said: “It was always going to be tough against a side who I feel are the best footballing team in the division but individual and collective mistakes on and off the ball gave them a 3-0 lead.

“The second one made even more of a difference and we went into our shells after that. Positives for me were seeing Christian Jolley scoring and youngster Harry Phipps coming off the bench to make his debut. He didn’t look out of place.”

Bull added: “I have got to look at why it happened but won’t go into it too much because we have been doing well. We took nine points out of a possible 15 in February but it’s not all about just staying up.

"I want us to push on, not allow things to fizzle out and build some momentum ahead of next season. The last 10 games will be massive and it’s not about coasting through them.

“We have got points on the board but players are playing for their futures, with several out of contract and I want to see what characters I have got.”

Loan striker Daniel Akindayini will be out for about two months after a scan on his ankle injury revealed damaged tendons.

The youngster returned to Brighton last week and Bull admitted: “It’s a shame because he looked a real handful while he was here.”

He isn’t ruling out adding to his squad and said: “ I get calls every day from agents offering me players but I won’t sign them just for the sake of it and without seeing them play.”
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