Poor form and home defeat to Braintree combine to leave Dartford boss Steve King with selection headache ahead of National League South play-offs

Dartford manager Steve King conceded he’s got more questions than answers on his mind ahead of next week’s play-offs.

The Darts lost their grip on third place in National League South with a 1-0 home defeat to Braintree on Bank Holiday Monday.

Keiran Murtagh was the latest player added to Dartford’s seemingly never-ending injury list during Saturday’s 6-0 win at Slough.

Having made five changes from that team for the visit of Braintree, King also felt it could be that some players have played their way out of contention.

“I have [more questions than answers] in certain areas of the pitch, in other areas it has made my mind up,” responded the Dartford boss.

“Is Jernade Meade going to get enough minutes in his legs to get back to the level he needs to be at?

“Is Jordan Wynter going to be fit? Is Connor Essam going to be back?

“We’ve got a few problems with the injuries at the moment.”

Dartford now head to Eastbourne this Saturday knowing they need a point to secure fourth spot as Oxford City in fifth could yet go above them on goal difference if they win at Bath.

Ebbsfleet sit third again but they need to win at home to Chelmsford, and any slip-up could open the door for Dartford to regain third spot.

The team who finish third will go straight into a play-off semi-final, with home advantage, on Sunday, May 15. The team who finishes fourth will host a play-off eliminator on Thursday, May 12 with the team who finishes fifth hosting a play-off eliminator on Wednesday, May 11.

Dartford’s fate will be decided at sixth-placed Eastbourne, who themselves might be resting players ahead of the play-offs.

Fans will have their eye on other scores but King is only worried about what Dartford do on the day.

“Eastbourne have got a