POOLE Town defender Lewis Lindsay is playing down the idea that his team is expected to claim three points from tomorrow’s National South clash with lowly Oxford City.

Dolphins turned in a terrific performance to win 2-0 at title contenders Hampton & Richmond Borough six days ago.

That result saw Poole stay in fifth spot, having lost only two of their opening 13 games this season.

Oxford City, by contrast, have won just two league matches this term, while conceding at a rate of more than two goals per game.

Lindsay told the Daily Echo: “I don’t think we’re expected to win any games after just being promoted. We want to get another victory but no game in this league is an easy one.

“We’re still adapting to it. We have to keep our feet on the ground, not get too far ahead of ourselves and manage each game as it comes.”

Southern League champions last season – the club’s second promotion in four years – Poole's opening-day 4-0 defeat at Ebbsfleet represented something of a portentous start to their maiden campaign at this level.

But Dolphins have conceded only 10 goals in their subsequent 12 matches and Lindsay admits his team have had to learn quickly.

“There is a big difference in physicality and players’ technical ability in this league,” he said. “If you give the ball away, you don't see it again for a while and you will be punished.

"In every game, you have to be bang on it and stay concentrated. Defensively, we are really strong. Different people can fill in there if we have injuries. We have a very, very strong squad. Even the players who don’t start play their part in helping us achieve results.”

Former Cherries youngster Lindsay was outstanding in his side’s win at Hampton & Richmond, defensively aware and immaculate in possession.

And the 22-year-old says he owes a debt to his team-mates for his own form.

“All of them really help me,” said Lindsay. "Walks (Michael Walker) didn’t start at Hampton but he’s always in my ear giving me advice. Even the young players have a real maturity about them and we have a great spirit in the squad.”

Lindsay isn't getting carried away with Dolphins' heady league position. Instead, the right-back insists his team will simply continue to enter each game armed with the positive mentality that has largely served them well so far – even if he confesses the players’ refusal to accept defeat was responsible for their chastening start at Ebbsfleet.

“When we lose, we tend to lose big, because we’re never satisfied,” said Lindsay. “If we’re one down, we always chase the game, looking to get three points. That’s the winning mentality the manager has instilled in us.

“We are ambitious, but we can only take each match as it comes. I’m not looking at league positions. We just have to keep adding points and see where that puts us.”