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Dartford FC joint-manager Jamie Coyle on the trip to Woking FC

Joint-boss Jamie Coyle insists Dartford believe they can go to title-chasing Woking and win.

Darts travel to Kingfield on Tuesday night needing a result to boost their own play-off hopes in National League South.

The Cards are trying to catch leaders Torquay and will start the game as favourites – but Coyle knows they’re beatable.

Dartford joint-manager Jamie Coyle Picture: Andy Payton
Dartford joint-manager Jamie Coyle Picture: Andy Payton

“Their home record isn’t great,” he said. “If you look at that and the levels of performances we’re getting out of the boys recently, I think we can go into the game really confident.

“If everyone does their job and wins their individual battles, there’s no reason why, with the quality we’ve got in our team, we can’t go there and win.

“We’ve got to have that belief between now and the end of the season. We’ve got some tough games coming up and we need to put a run of wins together.

“Everyone’s beating everyone this season and we go into every game believing we can win. It’ll be no different when we go to Woking.”

Alan Dowson’s side made national headlines by reaching the third round of the FA Cup and hosting Premier League Watford.

They’re aiming to bounce straight back up to the National League while it’s three-and-a-half years since Dartford dropped down to this level.

“It’s going to be really difficult,” Coyle admitted. “They’re a very good side with some athletic, mobile players in the final third.

“But if we’re going to cement ourselves a play-off place, they’re the kind of games we have to get points from.”

Dartford were held 1-1 by Concord on Saturday having led 1-0 at half-time.

Ben Greenhalgh celebrates his goal against Concord - but it finished 1-1 Picture: Simon Hildrew
Ben Greenhalgh celebrates his goal against Concord - but it finished 1-1 Picture: Simon Hildrew

Coyle said: “We can’t affords lapses of concentration and individual errors.

“We’re constantly doing practices that replicate the games, where players have to be switched on and concentrate, even when the ball goes dead.

“It is something we’ve looked at and worked on weekly.

“We have conceded some sloppy goals recently but it’s not just the back five, it’s collectively as a team. Everyone has to be responsible for that.”

So do the players share the belief of Coyle and his joint-manager Adam Flanagan?

“I think so,” he said. “It’s taken a little bit of time. We’ve had to make a number of changes to the squad for different reasons but in the last month I think there’s been a real togetherness.

“The team’s gelling and there have been some very good individual and collective performances recently.

“Now we need to be consistent and reliable for 95 minutes and not switch off, because we’re getting punished for that.”

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