Joe Hicks’ red card cost Hampton & Richmond Borough dear on Tuesday, but boss Alan Dowson insists it is not doom and gloom at the Beveree.

Hicks received an early first half bath for a professional foul, triggering a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Lewes in midweek to put the skids on an otherwise solid start to the new Ryman Premier League season.

Dowson, whose side entertain Dulwich Hamlet in the FA Cup first qualifying round tomorrow, celebrates a year in charge of the Beavers next week.

He expects his team to be in the top half of the table by then and has reminded fans how far his squad has come.

“If Joe had not got sent off we would have won the game. The red card was fair enough,” said Dowson, who is battling a ear and through infection.

“I’ve been taking a battering, but I don’t know what the fans expect.

“We have played nine games, we are sitting four points off the play-offs and have only lost two league games this season.

“The team was rock bottom when I took over and there was a lot of doom and gloom about the place – look where we are now.

“I just want to field my strongest side, because I have not been able to do that so far.”

He added: “Dulwich is not the easiest draw, but we will just have to roll our sleeves up and get on with it.”

Goalkeeper Seb Brown returns from suspension this week, while Dean Sinclair should have recovered from a knee problem.

Skipper Kieran Murphy is a week away from full fitness.