Story by Kevin Luff - 12th March 2007
Manager feels point could prove useful
Darlington battled to a point against fellow in form side Rochdale at Spotland yesterday. The hosts enjoyed the better of a high tempo first half before Quakers came more into the contest after the break. Despite this Darlington still had some off the better chances of the game and overall manager Dave Penney was left pleased with the point declaring it could prove useful come the end of the season.
"He has got them really up for it and we knew it would be like that. We told them that they would be up for it early on. They've steam roller teams early on and really gone for it," said Penney. "I didn't think they would be able to sustain that for the whole game and at the start of the second half we came more into it. Away from home teams are going to dominate so you just have to stick in there but we will always get chances and that happened today in the first half and the second."
Quakers' defence was given a thorough examination during the opening forty-five minutes and Penney admitted his backline did not enjoy its best of games. Dave Wheater had to be careful for the majority of the game after an early booking. Darlington's defence though was indebted to goalkeeper Sam Russell who made a number of brilliant stops to keep his side level.
"We were a bit all over the shop at the back at times but you have to bear in mind that there are four young lads in there now, all on loan and all learning their trade. But its another clean sheet," stated Penney. "I thought Ian Miller was excellent and the pick of the back four and obviously Sam Russell made some important saves as well. We could look at that come the end of the season and it could be a good point."
Lee Jones' continued groin problem allowed Russell to continue in goal and the former Middlesbrough shot stopper got the headlines with a string of good stops in goal to deny Rochdale. Having picked up a clean sheet at Walsall the weekend earlier and another at Spotland Penney admitted there was little more he could ask of Russell.
"Sam did brilliant," said Penney. "He is an excellent shot stopper. He has to work on his kicking which is normally his strength. It was a bit at sea today and not as good as it normally is. He has been out for three or four weeks, had one reserve game and come back into it. He has had two clean sheets on the trot now so you can't really ask for more than that from your keeper."
