BOSS TOM Killick says his side might have to get ugly to win games – after conceding too many ‘soft’ goals in their opening Southern League Premier South fixtures.

With eight goals conceded in three games, stalwart boss Killick is keen for his charges to cut out sloppy mistakes at the back, which he believes is undermining his side’s attacking prowess.

Speaking ahead of Dolphins’ trip to Harrow Borough tomorrow (3pm), Killick said: “I’d rather be a team that people don’t rate very highly, but we win a lot of games that people think we shouldn’t deserve to, than being one of these soft sides that is very easy on the eye.

“One that scores a lot of goals, is good going forward, but has got that knack of losing games that they should win and conceding soft goals. That’s what we’re facing a little bit at the moment.

“We’ve let in soft goals against Gosport, even against Tiverton we’ve conceded, and then against Farnborough - without being disrespectful, the goals we conceded were terrible from our point of view.

“We need to be a bit more resilient, and more dogged. If that means we sacrifice a little bit of prettiness that’s how it is going to have to be.”

Harrow are somewhat of an unknown quantity to Poole, with the two sides not having faced each other since January 2020.

However, with unexpected results around the league to start the campaign, Killick is wary that most teams in the division will pose a threat.

“It’s just becoming more apparent that whilst I thought there were 10, 11, 12 teams that will probably challenge, it’s easier just trying to pick one or two that will probably not be challenging,” continued Killick.

“For example, someone told me that even Beaconsfield are trying to get a strong squad together to try and challenge. We’re getting to a point where there’s three or four that are probably a little bit resigned to fighting in the lower reaches.”

Poole have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the trip, with Tony Lee appearing to have finally shaken off a persistent hamstring injury.

  • Meanwhile, Wimborne Town are set to host Swindon Supermarine at New Cuthbury.