Dartford's players have been told to 'man up' following their latest home defeat in the Vanarama Conference.

Saturday's 2-1 reverse against Altrincham at Princes Park saw the Darts drift to 11 points from safety with just six games left.

It also extended their winless home streak to nine matches, of which they've lost seven, in a run which stretches all the way back to November 11.

Darts boss Tony Burman had praised his side's recent performances away to Chester, Southport and Alfreton - but it's been a very different story at Princes Park.

Burman said: "I think it’s a major issue. We’ve got to make the fans get behind us with what we do on the park. Too many of them out there lost it (on Saturday) and I feel a little bit let down.

"I don’t say that at all really but I think I was (let down) in the first half. I backed a few players and that’s how I felt. There was everything to play for and we fell well below-par because the anxiety around the place got to the players.

"It’s been strange. We’ve played well away from home but at home, we’ve not played as well as what we should do. The onus is on the team to produce some play which lifts the crowd and unfortunately it didn’t happen.

"I said my piece in there at half-time and I said it at the end. At the end of it, you’ve got to man up and you’ve got to be brave enough to get on the ball and try to pass it. Just because you might hear a shout from someone, you can’t let that affect you. You’ve got to get on with things but too many of them, from the first five minutes, didn’t come out of the blocks."

Four of Dartford's last six games are at home, starting with the visit of Gateshead on Tuesday.

Burman said: "I’ve got to try to lift them up again. We’ve got four games left here and they’ve got to get over it. They’ve got to grow up and be positive and try to do their bit.

"Unfortunately, on Saturday, they let the pressure get to them. It’s sad because in the last three away games – and the travelling supporters will say this – they haven’t done that bad.

"It’s a completely different team and a completely different performance."