My hurt players want to put things right, says Burman

Tuesday 09th March 2010

DARTFORD boss Tony Burman says losing 4-1 at home to relegation threatened Billericay Town at the weekend was a shock to the system, writes Stephen McCartney.

Despite taking the lead through Lee Burns, the Princes Park faithful were left stunned as the Essex side inflicted the largest defeat of the season on Burman’s side, an it was their third league defeat in their last six outings.

And Burman was upset with the way that his side performed, despite now sitting eight points clear (with five games in hand on second placed side Kingstonian) at the top of the Ryman Premier League table.

“I have to say it’s a poor performance from the side and that’s not taking anything away from Billericay,” Burman told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“On the day they came and they were the better side on the day and got the result that they deserved.

“We took the lead, probably against the run of play, and you should keep it. We gave away some strange goals from our point of view and that’s the most disappointing performance of the season.”

Burman added: “At half-time I just felt we gave away a sloppy goal. We came in at 1-1, although that was disappointing, we should have gone out and took control of the game.

“I think Billericay got another two goals in the first ten minutes I think it was an it was just a very, very poor performance.”

Burman insists he wants his side to claim the local bragging rights at Maidstone United tonight - but more importantly three points to get things back on track.

“Although it was a poor performance,” he said, “seven days earlier it was ten of the players who were excellent at Boreham Wood so it doesn’t make sense but it’s happened.

“There’s no point dwelling on it. There’s a game coming up and we’re going to Maidstone and I want a reaction from the players from Saturday, which I’m sure we will get.

“The players were hurt on Saturday, they know they didn’t perform and they want to put things right.

“They’re a good bunch of players without any shadow of a doubt and we’ve got a good squad. We’re top because we deserve to be there but Saturday was a poor performance and we move on. We want to get three points on Tuesday.”

Burman will need to asses the fitness of central defender Adam Flanagan prior to kick-off tonight as he pulled a hamstring against Billericay.

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game, with Mike Green reporting

Visit Dartford’s websites: www.dartfordfc.co.uk & www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk

Maidstone United v Dartford

Ryman Premier League

Tuesday 9th March 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Homelands Stadium, Ashford Road, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent TN26 1NJ