EASTLEIGH lose defender Andrew Boyce to a one-match suspension as they look to get back to winning ways in the Vanarama National League at Dover Athletic on Saturday (3pm).

Boyce was sent off for two bookable offences less than 20 minutes after going on as a substitute in last Saturday’s 3-1 loss to league leaders Wrexham at the Silverlake.

His two mis-timed challenges summed up an afternoon of poor decision-making by the Spitfires whose shocking defending from set-pieces was in stark contrast to the rock-solid 1-0 home win over Bromley just four days earlier.

“As manager and coach we sit down every day and analyse and dissect performances and sometimes we just scratch our heads,” said manager Andy Hessenthaler.

“Bromley bombarded us with long balls and we defended for our lives, but in two of our home games (against Solihull Moors and Wrexham) we’ve conceded four goals that the opposition haven’t earned.

“We’ve watched the video back from Saturday and the boys know they’ve made mistakes. We haven’t set up right for set plays.

"A massive percentage of goals over a season are scored from set plays and you get punished at any level if you don’t defend them properly.

"It’s avoidable and we’ve got to cut it out," he stressed.

“You hold your hands up if you lose to a team that’s played fantastic football or scored an outstanding goal, but we made it easy for Wrexham.”

To offset Boyce’s suspension, both Joey Jones and George Dowling should be fit to return to the squad for Saturday and for Monday’s home game against Ebbsfleet United (3pm) – providing they suffer no reaction to their injuries in training.

Dover are two points worse off than 15th-placed Eastleigh. A comprensive 4-0 defeat at AFC Fylde last weekend made it just four points banked from five games for Chris Kinnear's men.

Assistant boss Jake Leberl said: “There is no reason to panic yet, but we have to be a lot better than we were against Fylde.”

*Eastleigh’s home game against Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday, September 22 has been selected for live coverage on BT Sport. Kick-off has been brought forward to 12.35pm.