Dartford manager Tony Burman backs Lincoln selection

Dartford boss Tony Burman has insisted he picked the right starting XI to face Lincoln despite their 4-2 defeat.

Although the Darts conceded four goals in the first half, Burman denied that substitutes Jacob Erskine and Ryan Hayes had transformed their fortunes.

"Let's give the other guys credit," he told BBC Radio Kent. "I thought that was the eleven, not just the subs.

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“It's rubbish talking about formations. Playing 4-4-2 has nothing to do with set pieces going in the back of your net”

Tony Burman Dartford manager

"We wanted to get a bit of pride back and the players who were on the pitch managed to do that."

Burman continued: "Jacob was sharp and so was Hayesy but they weren't sharp on Tuesday night against Nuneaton.

"I was more than happy with the team I played."

Dropping Erskine to the bench forced Burman to switch to a 4-4-2 formation instead of his favoured 4-4-1-1, in which the former Gillingham man plays just behind a smaller, faster forward.

Harry Crawford and Danny Harris were chosen up front, before the latter was withdrawn at half-time and Erskine brought on.

The defeat was Dartford's third in a row, equalling their worst run of the season, and Burman blamed their inability to defend set-pieces for their poor results.

"It's rubbish talking about formations," he added.

"Playing 4-4-2 has nothing to do with set pieces going in the back of your net. That's just poor defending.

"I thought some of the play going forward wasn't that bad. You can't justify set-pieces going in."