Dartford manager Alan Dowson on pre-season defeats to Gillingham and Bromley; Games against Phoenix Sports and Billericay Town up next

Dartford manager Alan Dowson believes his side will be looking more like it this weekend.

The Darts had a tough afternoon at home to Gillingham on Saturday, losing 5-0, but with players missing and another possible signing on the cards, Dowson isn’t panicking about their pre-season form.

They lost 2-1 to Bromley on Tuesday night and have a match at Billericay on Saturday as preparations for the National League South season opener at home to Bath City on August 5 continue.

Dowson has been missing the likes of Charlie Sheringham, Alex Wall, Luke Allen and Max Statham, and all will be a boost for the team.

He said: “All four [should be available] on Saturday and that’s a massive plus for us.

“I also want to sign one so I don’t think we will be too bad.

“People will look in the papers and see 5-0 [against Gillingham] but I would rather look at that now than after the Bath game, when you think you’ve got it wrong.

“Yes, defensive areas we have got to improve, of course we do, but I don’t think we were as bad as it looks.

“Pre-season messes with your head because you don’t know how good you are, we haven’t won in pre-season, it’s not a problem, I have had that before.

“If the first game of the season goes well then it’s been a good pre-season. If it isn’t then it’s been a bad one - it’s all about the first game of the season.

“How pre-season has gone, I haven’t got a clue until the Bath City game, then I will know.

“It can play with your head. I have been in this game a long time.

“Personally, I hate it, I get no satisfaction out of winning or losing [in pre-season], but we’ve got minutes into the legs and there’s been a few good signs out there, but I don’t know how good those signs are until [the Bath game].”

Dowson hasn’t