Deal Town manager Steve King says Isthmian South East defensive record is their main issue ahead of home game against basement boys Phoenix Sports

Boss Steve King admits Deal’s defensive problems have been their main issue this season.

King’s mid-table Isthmian South East Hoops are on a three-game losing league run, their latest defeat coming 2-1 at Sevenoaks last weekend.

Deal have shipped 44 goals in 19 league fixtures - only Phoenix Sports and Hythe have conceded more - and have kept just one league clean sheet.

That’s a surprise, given they conceded just 45 goals in 40 league games on their way to being crowned last term’s Southern Counties East Premier Division champions.

“Our issue is we have got one of the worst defensive records in the league,” said King, who has vowed to stick by his squad until at least the end of this season. “That’s where our issues are coming from.

“We’re really disappointed with that - not just as a back four and a goalkeeper - but as a collective. We conceded five less league goals than Erith Town last year.

“Neither team has changed their defence too much and we have conceded twice as many goals as them!”

But Deal haven’t had too many problems scoring at a higher level, despite the recent unavailability of first-choice forwards Ashley Miller, Aaron Millbank and Rory Smith, with 11-goal winger Tom Chapman leading the way.

He was again on target at Sevenoaks, a game in which King felt the hosts were awarded a fortunate penalty for a foul by left-back Jack Penny.

On Chapman, the manager said: “He has been our best player, he’s an outstanding player. I’m not surprised by how well he’s done in the division.

“Half the battle is being fit and doing it consistently. Ashley Miller, Rory Smith and Aaron Millbank haven’t been able to do that - and even Wes Hennessey has struggled a little bit.

“Tom is the one who is doing it consistently. He