Ebbsfleet boss Josh Wright insists defensive solidity is just as important as attacking flair.

The Fleet were unplayable for 20 second-half minutes as they thrashed AFC Totton 5-0 in National League South on Tuesday night.

But it was a third successive clean sheet and Wright is pleased with how his team are giving so little away at the other end.

“We’re giving up minimal chances,” stated Wright. “The strength we show when the ball goes into our box from long throws, corners, free-kicks, or from deep - the boys are standing up to it.

“I know we will create chances and I know we’re good enough to score goals.

“But another clean sheet is pleasing and scoring five goals is the other pleasing thing. They’re the big factors, but just continuing this momentum is really key as you keep growing when that happens.

“It becomes a habit, just like losing does. We’ve all been there. But when you’re winning, it just keeps rolling.”

Even though the Fleet conceded a series of late goals last season, they actually kept 15 clean sheets - including nine before the turn of the year in the league.

They’ve started this season with five clean sheets in eight games, and Wright knows they won’t achieve anything without a solid base.

“We were quite strong last year when you look back at it,” said Wright. “It was only when we were pushing and we started leaking those goals late on in games, we lost our way a bit with that.

“But in the early part of the season, it was probably creating so many chances and not taking them - the goals-against column was pretty strong.

“Good teams are built on that. So, if we can continue that, get a good goals-against column and a good clean sheet record, we know we can create and we know we’ll ask questions. That then gives you a great foundation and platform.

“You need both [defence and attack], you have to balance both. Some get away a bit where they’re just more aggressive and they’re happy to concede goals and happy to outscore you.

“But this squad and my teams are built on being strong from the back to the front. It’s not just my goalkeeper and my defenders. It’s the whole team.

“That comes down to work rate, mentality, mindset and hard graft because that’s what it takes to keep clean sheets.

“You need to put your bodies on the line. You need to be aggressive, and that’s exactly what this group are showing.”

The Fleet turned on the style in the second half against Totton - a sight Wright is used to seeing in training. Now he wants to see that eye-catching offensive play more often in matches.

“We looked really good in spells,” added the Fleet boss. “When it opens up, it’s just a joy to watch.

“That’s what you do in training. That’s what you watch in training day in, day out. That’s what you coach and stop, and make them do again and continuously put sessions on for.

“When you see it come to the pitch, it’s great because it’s a perfect night. Five goals, clean sheets. I’m delighted and the boys deserve that.

“They showed some good, exciting stuff. Loads of individuals were very good and the boys off the bench were very good.

“As a collective and a team that’s what is exciting me. We look a proper team right now.”

Wright even showed his demanding nature, wanting his team to be even more ruthless once they went 4-0 ahead on Tuesday.

“I was actually getting frustrated because I wanted more and I felt we could get more,” revealed Wright. “I felt we could have gone and got six.

“That’s standards. Again, it’s in the mind, we talk about being ruthless and that’s what proper teams do - they don’t come off it. They don’t let up and that’s what we had to do - but I can’t fault them after five goals and a clean sheet - I want it all the time.

“The more I can drum that into them and the more they do that, then the more we’ll win games. We’ll continue this momentum that we’ve got.”

Ebbsfleet, who are four points behind leaders Maidstone with three games in hand, host Weston-super-Mare on Saturday before entertaining Horsham on Tuesday night.