Source: Northern_Echo
Quakers must cash in against bottom half rivals
Darlington today begin a series of fixtures against sides in the bottom half of League Two well aware that they quickly need to start recording victories if they are to retain any hope of staying up.[LNB] This afternoon's match at Torquay United is followed by games with Northampton, Lincoln and Port Vale.[LNB] The matches, which sandwich a trip to Rotherham on Boxing Day, offer an opportunity to collect points as well as gain some much-needed momentum.[LNB] Steve Staunton's side have struggled horribly through the first 20 games, leaving them rock bottom of the table.[LNB] They have lost their last four games, conceding 14 goals in the process, but Staunton and assistant Kevin Richardson were heartened by the performance against Bradford seven days ago.[LNB] Darlington lost 1-0 at The Northern Echo Arena, and Richardson said: We made a few changes against Bradford and looked a bit more solid, better organised defensively.[LNB] The good thing was the reaction of the players. We went 1-0 down and it stayed 1-0, it didn't go to 3-0 or 4-0 like it has done in recent games.[LNB] Hopefully we can build on that. We just need to add a bit more quality in the final third.[LNB] Plans to watch Torquay in action on Tuesday had to be scrapped when their FA Cup tie at Stockport County was postponed, but the Gulls have been watched in recent weeks.[LNB] Richardson added: We've had reports done and they had a good result in their last home game but they've got a couple of players missing.[LNB] They've been a bit up and down.[LNB] They are going to come at us, so we need to be more resilient from the start and add a bit of quality to our play which we have been working on all week. It's been hard work in training, making players understand what we're looking for and their responsibilities.[LNB] It's a long journey so the players will have plenty of rest and hopefully when the game starts they will know what we require of them and will put it into practice.[LNB] Torquay, on 19 points, are just three places off the bottom, but Quakers lag 11 points adrift of the Gulls.[LNB] Richardson added: The gap is getting bigger and when we play games against teams at the bottom of the table we need to be more committed than they are because we need the points more.[LNB] Darlington are looking for their first away win of the campaign and are bolstered by a recent influx of senior pros, who Richardson admits inject vital experience.[LNB] Last week saw Quakers make five changes that included the return to action of Lee Thorpe and Mark Bower while the experienced Danny Hall and Paul Harsley made their debuts in the previous match.[LNB] Between them they have played over 1,500 first-team matches with both Thorpe and Harsley recently topping 500 each.[LNB] The goalkeepers' position, however, is held by 21-year-old Nick Liversedge, who impressed on his return to action against Bradford.[LNB] He had been rested for the previous game, but Richardson said: Nick's come back and I thought he looked comfortable.[LNB] He looks the part and I'm sure all the big boys will be coming here to watch him.[LNB]
