DORCHESTER Town right-back Kyle Egan believes the Magpies’ players must “take the blame” for a poor start to their BetVictor Southern Premier South campaign.

Egan’s comment is effectively in defence of boss Callum Brooks, who has taken the lion’s share of responsibility for the Magpies’ indifferent form.

After 14 league games, Dorchester have only escaped the bottom half once courtesy of a 1-0 opening day victory against Beaconsfield Town.

Brooks’ men have also exited the FA Cup at the second qualifying round stage, losing 1-0 to Blackfield & Langley.

Speaking to Echosport, Egan, who is currently sidelined with a medial collateral ligament strain, feels the players must take “responsibility” for turning Dorchester’s fortunes around.

He said: “It’s our responsibility. We’ve got to take the blame. The main thing is we’ve not performed, whoever the squad’s been.

“Cal’s not kept the same squad every week. It’s just us as players, we haven’t performed as we should and are expected to. That’s on us and we’re the only ones that can change that.

“Obviously, Callum can change formations and personnel but to affect the game, it’s down to us. We’ve got to start taking games by the scruff of the neck, doing whatever we can to get a result.

“At the end of the day we’ve been under-performing. We know we’re much better than what we’re playing like, but our performances haven’t proved that.

"We’ve got no reason for anyone to say we are good enough, or better than where we should be, because we deserve to be where we’re at due to our performances.

“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves, that’s the situation we’re in at the moment. Something needs to change, but I think that’s down to us as a squad. I don’t think it can be palmed off onto any management.”

Egan, who was injured against Taunton in mid-September, also gave an update on his knee problem.

He said: “It was a horrible time (to get injured) because I felt (results) were just starting to pick up.

“It’s going alright, obviously four weeks in now. It can take anything from six to 10 weeks, so I’ve started my physio work with Andy (Phillips).

“I hopefully should be back involved in terms of matchday stuff in about two, three weeks if it all goes to plan. It’s going alright.”

Egan spoke of his frustration at the timing of the injury, adding: “Especially with the FA Cup, getting a good result away and then having that second qualifier and missing that.

“I feel there was a good buzz around the group at the time and we’ve done well previously last season against Taunton in both games.

“Going into that game we knew they were a decent team and felt we could get something. The time it happened has not been ideal.

“Any injury is frustrating but for me personally I felt like I was starting to pick up a little bit and it’s set me back.”