Manager Alan Dowson insists he doesn’t feel under pressure at Dartford - and isn’t sure how he can be.

The Darts suffered a fourth successive loss on Saturday, losing 3-2 at home to rivals Welling in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round despite Lewis Manor’s brace.

Asked if he felt under pressure, Dowson, who lost out in the play-off Semi-Final with Dartford last season and has had to replace experienced centre-backs Tom Bonner (retired) and Connor Essam (joining Faversham), replied: “No, not at all.

“I haven’t thought about it. I don’t know how I can be under pressure - that’s the honest truth.

“We came second [last year], have lost five players, I’ve signed a new team and, after nine or 10 games, I’m under pressure? I don’t get it.

“So, no, I don’t feel under pressure. If anybody else wants to put me under pressure, that’s up to them.”

Fit-again frontman Alex Wall and winger Brandon Barzey came off the bench for Dartford but they were still without defenders Tommy Block and Maxwell Statham and midfielder Luke Allen while big striker Harvey Bradbury was another to miss the cup clash.

Report: Dartford 2-3 Welling United

“I just haven’t got the right team out,” Dowson added. “I don’t know what team in our league can keep going [with that amount of injuries].

“We’ve had eight injuries. All right, today, we had four injuries. But that’s a lot of injuries to have.”

Striker Manor twice put Dartford ahead but midfielder Antony Papadopoulos fired the Wings level on both occasions and then came up with the game’s all-important fifth goal.

Dowson said: “Whatever league you are in, you’re not going to win when you concede three goals.

“Their midfielder [Papadopoulos] scored a hat-trick… I think we have only got one [midfielder] who has scored one, Tyrell Miller-Rodney.

“Defensively, we didn’t look great on the day and, when you defend like that, you’re not going to win games.

“We played a three-man midfield because, with 4-4-2, we thought we might get overrun. So we went with three in there to try and stop that happening but, obviously, it didn’t stop it from happening because a lad has scored a hat-trick!

“Defensively, you won’t win games like that.

“You can play well, you can play badly, you can have a penalty claim, you can have one off the line maybe but, if you concede three goals - and a midfield player scores all three - then we’ve got a problem.”

It was an entertaining cup tie but that was of little consolation for Dowson and his out-of-form team.

Dowson said: “I’ve just lost four on the spin, haven’t I? So that’s not great for me.

“We’ll crack on. We’ll move forward and try to get our best side out.

“But at the moment, I’m just a bit devastated.”

Dartford host Kent rivals Tonbridge in National League South next weekend.