Kingstonian boss Alan Dowson remains a contented man despite three Ryman Premier Division defeats in seven days.

Dowson’s men have dropped to ninth in the table, although they remain just two points off the play-offs.

Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Harrow Borough compounded Saturday’s 2-1 home reverse to Canvey Island and last Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat in the re-arranged fixture at Whitehawk.

However, Dowson said his charges are playing well and he has nothing to complain about, over and above people saying the Ks are already out of the promotion race.

He said: “I am the first to criticise the players if they are not playing well, but that is not the case.

“We are not doing too much wrong. Against Canvey we were in control for 70 minutes of the game, and we’ll play teams this year where we’ve not deserved anything and we’ll win – it was the opposite way round on Saturday.

“Against Harrow, we hit the bar, the post and their keeper’s made a wordly save. We’re creating the chances, if we weren’t then I would be unhappy.

“I’ve been in the game a long time and I know all we need is a win to kick-start another run.”

Dowson has a fully fit squad available for the visit of East Thurrock  United on Saturday – in fact, he is having to deal with a bench of players eager to prove their worth.

He said: “I have players who think they should be playing, and the fact we’ve not won for a few games is making them hungrier to get on the pitch.

“That’s a great thing to have as a manager, and shows the desire in the squad.”

Theoretically, if Ks win their two games in hand they could find themselves third in the table, something that Dowson throws in the face of his critics.

He said: “It’s daft to say we’re out of the promotion race. It’s a nonsense. One win and we’re back in the play-offs.

“There are a lot of games to play yet and a lot of points to play for. If we carry on with the performances we’re putting in, we’ll be fine, I know that.”