WITH a decisive interception here and forceful tackle there, Craig Liddle announced his uncompromising return to Darlington's team in emphatic fashion.

And while Barry Conlon scored the goal that arrested Darlington's alarming run of seven games without a victory, it was Liddle who did most to throw Tommy Taylor a managerial lifeline on Saturday.

That winless streak saw Darlington ship 13 goals, including an embarrassing four at Hartlepool United, as the defence cried out for leadership.

Liddle, back at the weekend after missing three games with a leg injury, provided just that.

Aided by new recruit Stuart Whitehead, Liddle was the immovable object upon which a welter of Bristol Rovers attacks foundered.

He was the man responsible for Taylor sporting a grin rather than a grimace after the game; it was Liddle whose contribution was the difference between three points and one.

And, above all, it was the 30-year-old who made sure all talk after the game was of potential new signings, rather than Taylor being on the brink.

Taylor said: "It was a great defensive display by Craig Liddle and Stuart Whitehead.

"Craig reads the game so well and that's the biggest asset he's got. He gives us so much and we look more solid with him in the team.

"I tried to get Stuart in over the summer. I see him as a young Craig Liddle.

"He's got quite a bit of pace, he's good in the air and good on the ball with both feet. I think he made one mistake all afternoon."

Certainly, Whitehead was almost Liddle's equal as he kept Rovers at bay - although the bizarre sending off of Paul Tait was a massive fillip for Darlington.

Taylor later claimed that his side had enjoyed their first piece of good fortune for some time when Tait was dismissed just before half time.

Even Whitehead, the alleged victim of a head butt, was mystified that Tait was shown the red card by hapless referee Alan Kaye on the advice of his equally incompetent assistant, Craig Barker.

One could argue, with some justification, that Taylor was lucky that Rob Quinn's deflected late shot struck the crossbar rather than the back of the net.

But it was about time that fate smiled upon Taylor after the manager had seen Darlington's season fall apart at the seams in recent weeks.

Conlon showed a true striker's instinct when he beat Rovers goalkeeper Scott Howie to Ryan Valentine's cross and headed home the only goal after 18 minutes.

Ultimately, that proved decisive, although Darlington caused palpitations among their followers by spurning a handful of presentable opportunities.

Ian Clark should have done better than shoot tamely at Howie, while Conlon and Fenton had the chance to double their team's money.

Rovers made light of the one-man disadvantage as Darlington were repeatedly let down by the final ball, and the visitors were always going to get an opening.

Sure enough, 11 minutes from time, the ball fell to Quinn six yards out - but his shot hit the woodwork with goalkeeper Andy Collett beaten.

Rovers rarely threatened after then, and the after-match discussion was of the possibility of fresh blood arriving at Feethams rather than the club's plight.

Taylor said: "I tried to get Carl Griffiths for this game. The chairman said I could have him but his agent rang me up to say he's had a calf strain recently.

"I shall be talking to Carl again and he will come up here. I'll see how he feels and we'll go from there."

Darlington chairman George Reynolds added: "We've got a wonderful team and Stuart Whitehead was wonderful. But we've still got to get another striker. There are a lot of clubs in trouble at the moment and administrators are letting players go.

"We're looking at two strikers from Barnsley, one of whom is very good, and in all we're looking at about six or seven good forwards."

Result: Darlington 1 Bristol Rovers 0.

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