Joint-boss Jamie Coyle has admitted Dartford's defending from set-pieces is a major concern at the start of this season.

The Darts shipped four goals in the second half at Chelmsford on Monday to leave them still searching for their first win of the season after four games in National League South.

"We're conceding sloppy goals which we didn't do last year which is a concern for us," said Coyle. "Some of them are coming from set-pieces which is really disappointing. We've got a lot of work to do.

"It's collective. As a team you defend set-pieces and that's too many goals we've conceded so far from first and second phases.

"We've got to look at it, carry on working on it and get things right because they are the basics.

"We need to do our individual jobs and collectively that then comes together. If everyone does their job defending set-pieces then we won't concede.

"It's really frustrating as it's something we didn't have to deal with last year, we'll work on the training ground and put it right."

• Match report: Chelmsford 4 Dartford 0

It had looked a different story for the Darts at the break, as they dominated Chelmsford and could have easily led in the first half.

"We've said that too many times this season," said Coyle when asked if the final scoreline did not reflect the game. "The first half was the most we've dominated a side this season.

"We didn't take our chances, exactly the same as Saturday. We had some glorious chances, put some great set-pieces into the box and unfortunately didn't score the goal.

"It's a tough one to take. If we had scored when we were on top in the first half it would have been a completely different game but it wasn't to be and unfortunately after the sending-off we were under the cosh a little bit and they got three more goals.

Coyle had no complaints over the red card after Jordan Wynter went flying into a challenge, which left referee Callum Walchester little alternative but to reduce the Darts to 10 men.

"I think he's mistimed a tackle," added Coyle. "There's no malice in Jordan Wynter at all, and I'm just pleased that the player and him are not severely injured. it could have been a nasty one."

Coyle was full of praise for teenager Cameron Brodie, who impressed in the first half against Chelmsford's experienced midfield duo of Anthony Church and Ollie Muldoon.

"Cameron Brodie was outstanding," stated Coyle. "For a 17-year-old kid to come into a game of this magnitude, he didn't deserve to be on the losing side.

"I thought we won the midfield battle in the first half but second half we were almost non-existent. It's no good doing it for 45 minutes, we've got to do it for 95 and that's something we need to work on."

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