Dartford FC manager Tony Burman finds positives amid a winless start to the season and several injuries
Published: 00:00, 18 August 2016
Tony Burman hopes Dartford’s luck is about to change after a turbulent start to the season at Princes Park.
Six injuries and two red cards in the opening 10 days of the campaign have left the Darts reeling and without a win in four games.
But Dartford manager Burman feels their team spirit has grown in adversity and is confident the first victory will come soon.
He said: "I’ve never known anything like it.
"We’re all disappointed with our points tally because it could so easily have been a lot more but I’m not disappointed at all with the effort and the way the team is shaping up in respect of what we’ve had to do and what’s happened to us.
"The supporters want to get behind the players, which is another plus for us.
"The performances have been of a high standard and things will change for us. We’re knocking on the door of the first three points."
Elliot Bradbrook (ankle) will miss the trip to leaders Weston-super-Mare on Saturday while strikers Andy Pugh and Duane Ofori-Acheampong are both rated 50-50 to play some part.
A new lightweight cast protecting Ronnie Vint’s broken wrist could allow the centre-half to return in place of Keaton Wood, who is suspended after his red card at Whitehawk last Wednesday.
Vice-captain Tom Bonner, dismissed against Gosport in midweek, is available on Saturday before his ban kicks in.
Those still standing have earned plenty of praise from the boss.
Burman said: "Danny Harris has been superb in the four games. I don’t think I’ve ever known anybody work so hard.
"He’s had to play right-back, centre midfield and up front and he typifies what we’re about.
"He could have come away with four goals in the four games. The goalkeeper pulled off a good save on Saturday and on Tuesday, he ran 80 yards to get on the end of something.
"Lee Noble is playing through the pain barrier for us and he’s been excellent in the two games he’s played.
"He’s been moving the ball and Nobes has been top-notch. It’s just a shame he’s got this slight problem in the groin area because it takes time to calm down after games."
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Steve Tervet