By Alex Hoad

Tony Burman has leapt to the defence of his Dartford players after the club’s lead in Ryman League Premier Division was cut to seven points.

The Darts have cruised through the past few months after building a lead which reached 14 points at one stage while also boasting games in hand over their rivals.

However, after Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to Sutton, the murmurs of discontent at Princes Park grew louder as the Darts’ recent dip in form extended to just two wins in seven home games and no wins at all in their last three games.

There is little need to panic, though, as Dartford’s cushion remains seven points and they do have three games in hand and a vastly superior goal difference.

Burman (pictured) recognises the need for improvement when the Darts travel to struggling Tonbridge on Saturday and Wealdstone on Tuesday night.

After the defeat to Sutton, he said: "We have got to move on and get things right. We need to improve and the players know that. It is not that they are not motivated - they are upset that things did not go right. In a season you will have a poor spell, it happens to every team whether you like it or not."

Striker Carl Rook is ineligible to face former club Tonbridge under the terms of his transfer but is set to return on Tuesday. Allan Tait and Jay May remain sidelined.