Source: Northern_Echo
Skipper praised by boss
NO-ONE earned more praise from Darlington boss Steve Staunton for last Saturday's battling victory over Burton Albion than skipper Steve Foster, whom the manager reckons is close to recapturing his best form.[LNB] After complaining about the fragility of his defence in recent weeks, particularly following their tame surrender at Barnet in the FA Cup, Staunton believes that his backline is showing signs of establishing a solid platform.[LNB] Foster remains one of the few older heads in a line-up where youth and inexperience have been the watch words of the manager's recruitment policy.[LNB] By trawling top-flight reserve teams and sides outside the Football League, Staunton has yielded a crop of players who possess potential but lack experience.[LNB] Staunton acknowledged the lack of mature figures in his squad has placed pressure on Foster, who has been charged with inspiring the younger players while maintaining his own high standards.[LNB] Fozzie's been battling away and confidence has been low, not just among the younger ones, noted the manager. It's difficult when you're older and have to pick the younger ones up when you're feeling low yourself.[LNB] But he's the captain, he has to lead by example whether he's having a tough time or not and he showed that at the weekend. That was more like the old Fozzie.[LNB] He won his tackles, won all his headers, did all the basics right and that's all you can ask.[LNB] Staunton, who was pleased to see the whole team focus on their defensive responsibilities against Burton, added: I thought we were a much tighter unit. We defended from the front and the midfield boys put a great shift in, but the defenders were outstanding and the goalkeeper looked comfortable.[LNB] I didn't think we'd be defending on the edge of our own box for so long but the players managed to keep a clean sheet and they did it because they did their jobs properly.[LNB] In the last couple of games there has been some poor defending.[LNB] I thought the performances haven't been too bad, they've just been too patchy.[LNB] We've done certain things right in some games and certain things very wrong and we're trying to eradicate that. The lads are working hard.[LNB]
