Dartford have made two loan signings ahead of Saturday's home game against Gateshead in the Skrill Premier.

Crawley defender Connor Essam and Portsmouth goalkeeper Phil Smith will both spend a month with the Darts, who have been conceded 15 goals in their last four games.

Tony Burman described Tuesday's 5-1 defeat at home to Wrexham as the worst defensive performance during his long reign as Dartford manager.

He felt "badly let down" and said "that only happens once" so personnel changes were expected.

Essam, 21, is returning to Princes Park for a second spell in Dartford colours. He was loaned to Burman's side during the 2011/12 season by Gillingham, with whom he started his career.

Bishop's Stortford, Dover and Luton also took Essam on loan during his Gills days, before Martin Allen made him available for a free transfer midway through last season.

Dartford tried to sign him then but Essam wanted full-time football and he was snapped up by Crawley. He made nine appearances for the League 1 side before the end of the season but has only featured three times this term, his solitary start coming in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Meanwhile, 33-year-old Smith arrives at a time when first-choice Darts keeper Alan Julian is struggling with a groin injury.

Tommy Forecast, on a month's loan from Chelmsford which expires this weekend, played in the Wrexham defeat and conceded three goals in as many minutes after coming on for Julian at Macclesfield last weekend.

Smith has played in Kent before, having spent time with Folkestone, Dover and Margate in the early part of his career.

He later joined Crawley and then spent six years with Swindon, before joining Portsmouth - as a free agent - in December 2012.