Cooper is looking after his defenders

AS HE prepares his side for today's FA Trophy semi-final first-leg against Gateshead, Darlington manager Mark Cooper insists he has faith in his defenders, despite conceding a late equaliser to Ian Bogie's side on Tuesday. Cooper was livid with his side after the meeting at the International Stadium, which saw Quakers throw a two-goal lead away in the last 19 minutes. Conceding late goals has become a regular occurrence for Quakers this season, despite the fact they boast one of the best defensive records in the Blue Square Premier. Before Tuesday night's draw, Cooper's side had only conceded four goals in their last nine games, form which has seen them make a timely surge up the Conference table to eighth, eight points off the play-offs with games in hand. Despite the flurry of late goals, which has cost his side ten points, Quakers' boss is refusing to put the blame on his defenders. "I don't want to make a big thing about defending set-pieces because if you do that players start expecting to concede," Cooper said. "I think we've got the third best defensive record in the league and that doesn't happen if you've got defensive problems. "There may have been lapses in concentration and that's something I've got to solve. "I'll take the blame for conceding the late goals and I've got to come up with something to try and solve that." Gateshead's first goal came from the penalty spot, awarded after Aman Verma was adjudged to have fouled striker Nathan Fisher. Cooper had no qualms about the decision, while he also explained why the Heed were able to score the point-clinching leveller, saying: "It was a definite penalty. "A tackle went in that didn't need to be made on a player that was in the box, and my big centre-back lost his man at a corner for the equaliser. It was two mistakes." The re-arranged league fixture in midweek means today's clash with 12th-placed Gateshead will be the second instalment of the three-part series between the sides inside 11 days. But Cooper believes Tuesday's result won't have any significance on the semi-final and feels the outcome will come down to who wants it more over the two legs. Cooper said: "I don't think it makes much psychological difference (playing them earlier in the week). "That league game goes out of the window. We could've played ten games beforehand and it wouldn't have made any difference because this is a semi-final and a chance to get to Wembley." "Whichever team copes with the pressure and the game will get through. "I don't think playing them on Tuesday has had any impact on the cup games because in a two-legged semi-final it's about what happens on the day. "It's about which team turns up and does things properly and professionally." Quakers have home advantage in the first-leg and after 533 fans made the trip to the International Stadium in midweek, Cooper is hoping they can generate a good atmosphere at The Northern Echo Arena today. The boss also revealed he is pleased his side has home advantage today and hopes they can get a result which will stand them in good stead for the second-leg next Saturday. "The fans have been brilliant in the last few weeks and have really got behind the team, myself and the chairman. "They've made such a difference to the atmosphere in the stadium and on the pitch, and that can only be a positive thing," he said. "I know from being a player myself, if it's a good atmosphere you want to play in it. "They were really good the other night. I think they doubled Gateshead's crowd, so they've been brilliant and I'm sure they'll be out in force on Saturday. "I just feel in the second leg of a semi-final, if you're at home there's a lot of pressure on you. "That's just my preference. Hopefully we can still be in the tie come next Saturday. "We just want to make sure we have a chance of going to Wembley with the second leg to come. "I think it's going to be a tight game and I just want to make sure we're in with a chance of going to Wembley with ten minutes to go in the second leg." Darlington are likely to field a similar line-up to that which played on Tuesday, minus the cup-tied Adam Quinn and Michael Smith. Dan Burn replaces Quinn with Chris Senior most likely to come into the team for Smith, although Cooper could opt for the burly presence of Tommy Wright against a Heed defence that is likely to see the return of James Curtis. The tall centre-back is a regular for Gateshead but missed out on Tuesday, as did leading goalscorer John Shaw, but both are expected to return for the Trophy. As well as Smith and Quinn, also cup-tied for Quakers are John McReady and Greg Taylor, while Cooper says that John Campbell is unavailable for at least another week due to a broken hand.

Source: Northern_Echo