Source: Northern_Echo
Cooper promises Boro a tough test
MARK COOPER is confident his Darlington side can provide a stiff test for Middlesbrough, who visit the Northern Echo Arena this afternoon.[LNB] Quakers returned from their pre-season tour of the South-East this week and trained at their Norton base yesterday ahead of the game against Boro, who have also been on their travels, returning from Slovenia on Thursday.[LNB] A week on from the 2-0 defeat against Newcastle, Cooper believes his side can be more of a match for Middlesbrough when they step out on home soil today.[LNB] "It's easy to play against a Premier League team and get a real hiding," Cooper said.[LNB] "It's happened to us in previous years and we did not want that to happen last week. We didn't play great football because you don't see enough of the ball.[LNB] "Middlesbrough have some really good players, some young players, so it's going to be a real tough test for us. But hopefully we can show that we've got some decent players of our own.[LNB] "We were playing against some of the best players in the world last week, when you analyse it. But the way Middlesbrough finished the Championship season would suggest that they are going to mount a promotion charge, and they're going to be a real good test for us.[LNB] "I'm hopeful we'll have some spells where we can have some of the ball and create some stuff.[LNB] "We've worked on how we're going to play. We've got enough to give Middlesbrough a little bit of a test, which I'm sure is what Tony Mowbray is looking for."[LNB] Injuries to six first-team players, including full-backs Aaron Brown and Paul Arnison, have caused Cooper a selection headache this week, even bringing himself on for 20 minutes at Staines, but the Darlington manager will welcome Jamie Chandler back to the side today, after recovering from a leg infection, to bolster the numbers.[LNB] Trialists Dan Madden and Danny Elliot will also feature, but it appears no progress has been made on the loan signing of Tadhg Purcell from Northampton Town.[LNB] With the season starting in a month's time against Braintree Town, Cooper is confident he will have a squad that can compete at the top end of Blue Square Premier.[LNB] He said: "We're a couple of signings away from having the squad we want.[LNB] "Hopefully, by the end of next week we'll have everyone in place for the season.[LNB] "We're still waiting to finalise a deal with Northampton for Tadhg, so that rolls on and there's nothing concrete at the moment.[LNB] "We are struggling numbers-wise, we're missing Aaron Brown, Paul Arnison, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson and Adam Quinn, so we're going to have to stick with what we've got."[LNB] Last week's game against Newcastle was marred by crowd trouble, but Cooper said: "I don't think we can complain about our supporters.[LNB] "They've been great since I came here. I don't see any reason why we should take the blame for last week, and certainly not our supporters. I've not seen any trouble since I've been here.[LNB] "The mood is good, we're in good spirits, we've had some decent training sessions and by the end of next week we should have a fully fit squad to pick from."[LNB] Three games and a week away has given Cooper a better insight to the new players he signed in the close season - suggesting that at least one could consider a music career when he hangs up his boots.[LNB] Cooper said: "I've learned that all four of them are really good singers. Adam Rundle could go on X-Factor, he's out of this world, an incredible singer![LNB] "James Walshaw goes on about Yorkshire puddings all the time, he's from Wakefield. Graham Lee He's getting on a bit but he's a good pro, a good leader.[LNB] "Kris Taylor - the boys are still trying to understand him with his Birmingham accent. They're all good lads, they've all brought something to the table and I think they'll improve us.[LNB] Darlington will welcome Curtis Main back to the Arena after his summer move to Boro.[LNB] And Cooper is confident that, in time, he could be a success on Teesside.[LNB] "Curtis had been at the club quite a while, and he needed to move on," said the manager.[LNB] "It's great for him that he got a move to Middlesbrough and I hope he does well and that he scores loads of goals for them, but not against us."[LNB]
