Source: Northern_Echo
Cooper aiming to derail leaders AFC Wimbledon
MARK COOPER is confident his Darlington side can cause an upset today, despite the fact opponents AFC Wimbledon are unbeaten at home this season.[LNB] The Dons are two points clear at the top of the Blue Square Bet Premier table and with six wins and two draws, Terry Brown's side have been formidable at home.[LNB] Quakers though have had some joy on their travels this season, losing just once, and Cooper says unbeaten records are there to be broken and believes his side will make it difficult for the Dons.[LNB] There's always a first time for someone to lose a record,[LNB] said Cooper.[LNB] I'm sure they are looking at it thinking it will be a tough game for them. We've not lost many away from home, we're going to make it difficult, we're not going to make it easy.[LNB] If they are going to beat us they are going to have to work hard for it. I went down there and won last year so hopefully we can do the same again.[LNB] I don't think it would be a massive surprise if we went there and won because everyone beats everyone in this league.[LNB] But I'm just looking for us to play for, say, 75-80 minutes really consistently well, and we haven't done that yet.[LNB] If we start to do that then we will get some good results.[LNB] I wouldn't take a draw now, I want to win the game. We need to win some games of football to try to get us back among the top boys. We are going to go there and try to attack and try to win the game.[LNB] Although Cooper will have several players available who missed last weekend's FA Cup win, he indicates he won't be making too many changes.[LNB] The manager hopes to have Michael Brough back after the midfielder suffered a knock against Mossley.[LNB] We won't be making too many changes from last week's team, Cooper revealed.[LNB] Brough didn't train on Thursday but hopefully he'll be OK. We've just got to get him on the pitch because as we saw last week he ruffles a few feathers and that's what we want.[LNB] It was a terrible tackle on him last week. He epitomises everything my teams will be about, which is fighting and scrapping for everything.[LNB] He did that on Saturday, he organised the team, and that's what we brought him in for.[LNB] Liam Hatch is available after Peterborough blocked his inclusion in the FA Cup game at Mossley, while Cooper also revealed that while Paul Arnison and Paul Terry remain absent, forward Jefferson Louis could return to the fold.[LNB] The Dons have pulled in good crowds this season and will be looking to create an atmosphere when Quakers visit Kingsmeadow, but Cooper insists his side will be able to cope with a loud atmosphere.[LNB] He said: Their crowd get behind them and we've got to go their and nullify that, but it'll be a really good atmosphere and a really good pitch.[LNB] Michael Smith has joined Blue Square North side Workington on loan.[LNB] The striker, who turned 19 last week, has signed for the Cumbrian side for a month.[LNB] Meanwhile, the Football Association have requested footage of Darlington's game against Mossley last week, where the club's PA announcer made a string of obscene comments from his seat, and also accused the referee of turning this into a farce after Mossley were reduced to eight men.[LNB]
