HARTLEPOOL United striker Anth Lormor last night backed his teammates to bounce back from Saturday's defeat at Rochdale.

Pool set off this morning for tomorrow's game at Brighton and Lormor - whose third goal of the season brought Pool level at Spotland - is confident of a quick-fire response at the Withdean Stadium.

"We showed what we could do when we took the game to Rochdale on Saturday,'' said Lormor. "They had nothing when we went for it and we showed what we are capable of when we apply ourselves.

"But like the gaffer said, it is no good playing for only 25 minutes.''

Pool were denied a point by a controversial penalty decision by Frazer Stretton and Lormor, who is working his way up the match officials ladder as he runs the line in the UniBond League, confessed: "I thought it might have been a free kick at worst - they were both pulling each other and it was a bit harsh against us.

"But we can't hide behind a decision like that, we weren't good enough and we have to ask ourselves why.

"Now we have to go to Brighton and get something. It will be difficult, but we are better than anyone in this league.

"We should have started well at Rochdale because of the confidence from the last two games, but we started out like we were going to rest on our laurels.''

Lormor's strike took his tally to three for the campaign and the goal was his second in successive away games after netting in the defeat at his former club Mansfield on September 30.

Boss Chris Turner said: "He is a good striker and knows what this division is all about. I said all along that he will get 12 to 15 goals this season and there's no reason why not. If he can do that and Kevin Henderson does the same we will have a 30-odd goal strikeforce, which will go a long way to ensuring success.''

l Darlington manager Gary Bennett is looking for a repeat performance when his side take on Football League newboys Kidderminster tonight, writes RAY SIMPSON.

Quakers moved into seventh place with Saturday's impressive 2-0 win over Torquay, and another win at Feethams could lift them into fifth.

"I thought we played very well on Saturday," said Bennett.

"We kept a clean sheet and produced a good overall performance. We were very positive and people expressed themselves.

"But the players must produce the same sort of performance again, and they must be more ruthless in front of goal, instead of trying to walk the ball into the net."

Kidderminster - to whom Quakers lost in a nail-biting end to the Conference campaign ten years ago - have some good away form in the league this season, having lost once in six away trips. On Saturday they drew 3-3 with Lincoln with new signing John Durnin among the goals.

Manager Jan Molby, the former Liverpool midfielder, has adopted a passing style of play similar to Quakers, and Bennett said: "We prefer to play teams who like to pass the ball around like us.

"It will be down to the team which has the better understanding, and I believe that will be us."

Midfielder Paul Campbell will have a late fitness test on a groin injury. Keeper Andy Collett should have recovered from a rib injury.

Recent signing Jordan Tait, who made a couple of first team appearances for his old club Oldham, is added to the squad and could be on the bench.