Source: Northern_Echo
Staunton feels for his players
STEVE STAUNTON has spoken of his sympathy for the players who are struggling to cope with the pressure of being rock-bottom of the Football League.[LNB] The Quakers boss believes nerves are playing a part in players being unable to transfer their form in training to matchdays.[LNB] Darlington undertake the 12-hour round trip to Torquay this weekend and must avoid defeat if they are to have any realistic chance of mounting a successful bid to avoid relegation.[LNB] The Gulls have managed only three victories at home this season, one better than Quakers, and their position third from bottom of League Two means they are one of the teams Staunton is targeting as he attempts to drag his side away from trouble.[LNB] The manager takes heart from his players continuing to work hard on the training pitch despite failing to take any points from their last four matches.[LNB] The players are unbelievable in training, I can't fault their attitude at all, he said.[LNB] They are bound to apprehensive because of the position we're in and we keep losing games.[LNB] They're going to be like that, players do get edgy and nervous. I've been in this position as a player with Aston Villa, although not as low as this, but I've been down there and when you're flirting with relegation nerves do get to you.[LNB] It doesn't matter how good you are as a player, your decision just goes haywire and everything else in your game goes wrong. But in training you don't have the nerves.[LNB] If results don't start to turn it won't be for the lack of hard work on the training ground, the players know that. We've been working hard both offensively and defensively because we're lacking in both departments.[LNB] We're conceding too many and we're not scoring enough.[LNB] After conceding goals at an alarming rate in recent weeks Staunton was pleased to see the back four show greater resolve against Bradford City on Saturday.[LNB] I thought Mark Bower was excellent in his first game back, said Staunton.[LNB] He won his headers, covered well and him and Danny Hall had a very good understanding.[LNB] They competed well, they were up against a 6ft 4ins striker but they won their fair share of headers and battled well. To be fair, I thought the whole back four had a very good game, we had a better line.[LNB]
