Dartford manager Alan Dowson says everyone has to work harder to improve results in National League South

Dartford boss Alan Dowson says everyone has to work harder to turn their season around - including himself.

Dowson turned into Mr Angry this week, furious that his side are dropping points in games they should be winning. But there’s only one way they are going to show an upturn in form.

“I’m annoyed and angry,” stated Dowson, whose side went down 2-1 at Chippenham last weekend. “I’ve come into the club, for the first time since I’ve had the job, angry.

“It’s hard coming in new and I wanted people to show something. I’ll take full responsibility for results and we’ll be fine but at the moment I am angry. I feel we’ve let people at the club down.

“I’ve got to do my job a little bit better, the players have got to perform better. Everyone says how great it is now, the atmosphere’s good and we’re having overnight stays, the prep is spot-on so we’ve all got to give a little bit more.

“There’s some good footballers here but without that extra battling quality and I’ve realised that. I’ve got to put that right.

“In 17 years I’ve only had two bad seasons and at the minute it looks like this is going to be tough but it can change if you work harder. I’m not good enough myself not to work harder, so I’ve got to do that and do my job better.

“I’m my worst critic. I didn’t sleep all weekend. I demand a lot out of people but I’m not getting what I want at the minute. I need to demand more out of myself and more out of my players.”

Dowson has dismissed suggestions Dartford’s last-gasp defeats are down to a lack of fitness.

Worthing and Chippenham have both scored injury-time winners against the Darts while two late goals ensured they suffered defeat at Taunton. Chesham also netted in injury time when they lost at Princes Park earlier