EASTLEIGH have started as they mean to go on under new boss Andy Hessenthaler.

An outstanding win at Dagenham & Redbridge followed by Tuesday’s 1-1 home draw against ten-man Torquay keeps them bang on target for two points a game for the remainder of the season.

Currently the Spitfires are nearer the bottom of the National League table than the top, sitting 17th with 30 points from their opening 26 games, 12 of which have been draws.

But Hessenthaler, who has another three points in his sights at home to off-colour Woking on Saturday (3pm), hopes some consistency of team selection and performance could belatedly get Eastleigh's season off the ground.

The experienced former Gillingham and Leyton Orient boss said: “Before Dagenham we said two points a game until the end of the season would get us to 70 points and, so far over the two matches, we’ve done that.

“We don’t know yet if 70 points is enough for the play-offs but, if we can achieve that, you never know.

"For now, though, we’ve just got to start winning football matches on a consistent basis.

“It’s an old cliché, I know, but we’ll take each game as it comes and see where we end up.

“We’ve been a bit unlucky with injuries - that's football - but we’re hoping maybe Ryan Cresswell, Sam Togwell and Ben Williamson will come into contention for the Guiseley game (home, January 6) and that would help us.

"A bit of consistency picking the side gets you that momentum.”

Armed with hundreds of League games as a player and manager, Hessenthaler has taken his rise from No2 to the managerial hot seat with minimal fuss.

“I’m not a rookie, I’ve been a manager before, I know what the job entails and what we’ve got to achieve,” he said.

“Richard’s (Hill) decision to go upstairs was something we’d spoken about when I came here, but it’s a shame the change came the way it did. If results had been better, we’d have kept the same format.

“We’ve all been accountable. We’ve had too many draws. If we'd turned half those draws into wins, we'd be in the play-off places.

“Richard’s in the office now (as director of football) and he’s a big help in taking the pressure off me.

“He’s always on the phone if I need him and it means I can concentrate on the team. It works well.”

Woking, managed by former Saints under-18 coach Anthony Limbrick, sit three points above Eastleigh in 13th, having won just one of their last nine league games.

To beat them, the Spitfires need to break their home hoodoo, having drawn four and lost two of their last six league fixtures at the Silverlake.

"The home form's not been good enough," Hessenthaler admitted. "Teams do raise their game when they come here and see the names on our teamsheet, but we have to overcome that.

"We needed something to drop for us against Torquay and it wasn't for lack of trying. But give them some credit, they defended for their lives.

"Overall I've been pleased with the last two games.

"Performance-wise, I thought the Dagenham game carried over from the week before in the FA Trophy at Ebbsfleet where we were unlucky not to bring them back down here for a replay.

"We've got to keep playing the way we have done.

"It's gone alright with four points from two games, although we've probably done it the wrong way round! You'd have thought maybe a point at Dagenham and three at home."

Central defender Andrew Boyce cramped up against Torquay, but Hessenthaler said: "It was fatigue more than anything on a tricky pitch - I'm convinced he'll be okay for Saturday.

"The pitch took a bit of a hammering and it's still a bit sticky but, fingers crossed, we'll get the game on."