Disjointed Quakers slip further adrift

STEVE Staunton did not hide his disappointment after seeing Darlington slump to defeat at Hereford on a dreadful weekend for Quakers.

Not only did they lose to a team positioned sixth bottom beforehand, but Darlington’s survival hopes took a further battering as some of their relegation rivals won.

Staunton’s side are now nine points adrift of third bottom; and “disjointed” was how he described a defence that conceded two goals either side of half-time.

The 2-1 defeat at Edgar Street was the most disappointing of Staunton’s four games.

They may have been comprehensively outplayed three weeks ago at Dagenham, but the Daggers are among the best teams in the division, while Staunton had only taken charge that week.

Since then Quakers have had the impressive victory over Shrewsbury Town and a good display, despite losing, at Barnet. So it had seemed Staunton and assistant manager Kevin Richardson were gradually instilling genuine survival hopes.

But on Saturday it appeared Quakers were back to square one. For the most part they lacked an attacking threat, someone in the mould of Jamie Devitt perhaps, while Staunton was less than satisfied with his defence.

“It was the same old story,”

he moaned. “We started well, had a couple of chances, and finished the game well. But inbetween it was all over. We were too disjointed at the back. We’re giving ourselves an uphill battle every week and it’s got to stop.

“The players have to stand up to be counted and get a clean sheet. There were some good bits and pieces but until we can keep a clean sheet we are going to be rooted to the bottom.

“It’s getting close now and we need to start picking up points. The players have got to realise that we’re into November now. There’s a lot of hard work to be done and we can’t keep giving the opposition two-goal starts.”

That’s what happened on Saturday, with Hereford 2-0 up by the 47th minute.

Darlington have now conceded 26 goals in their 15 league games, the 25th coming just before half-time from Keith Lowe.

The defender fired past goalkeeper Nick Liversedge, who tried and failed to collect a cross which allowed Marc Pugh to pick out Lowe.

Liversedge was preferred to new signing Ashlee Jones, who was on the bench, while Matty Plummer was selected in central defence as Ian Miller was unable to play after being concussed at Barnet.

“They were soft goals to concede,” added Staunton, who subbed right-back Paul Arnison at the break and replaced him with teenager Corey Barnes, who normally operates in midfield.

“I think their first goal was scored by a defender in our box. Two of our experienced players went diving in and it was disappointing.

“The second goal was even worse. Nobody competed for the first ball, and nobody reacted to the header.”

Explaining Arnison’s withdrawal, Staunton said: “It wasn’t Arni’s best performance by a long way and I thought their left-sided midfielder was having it too easy.

And Corey did well.”

The second goal came within two minutes of the restart with former Quakers defender Ryan Valentine delivering the free-kick from which Darren Jones scored.

Darlington were unable to clear the free-kick, conceded by Plummer for a foul on Mathieu Manset, which was played into the penalty area and fired home by Jones.

Manset twice spurned chances to add a third, heading over the bar then shooting powerfully off target.

With 33 minutes to play Staunton gave debuts to striker Mor Diop and winger Nathan Mulligan, and the move inspired a fightback with James Collins pulling a goal back.

He lashed home on 72 minutes after Moses Barnett pulled the ball back from the byline, and within two minutes Plummer could have earned a point with a closerange header that was saved by keeper Adam Bartlett.

In the closing stages Diop, who had a decent debut, saw a shot pushed wide by Bartlett but, as Staunton put it, Quakers were unable to nick a point.

He added: “Plumms met the corner very well but unfortunately he headed it right down the keeper’s throat.

“That’s the way it’s going at the moment but even if that had gone in it would have been a point nicked.

“I’ve already said to the lads that there’s going to be a lot of boring, mundane defensive work in training but it’s got to be done.”

Matchfacts

Goals:

1-0: Lowe (41, fired past Liversedge from 12 yards after Pugh had beaten Arnison)

2-0: Jones (47, close-range goal when Quakers were slow to react to a Valentine free-kick)

2-1: Collins (72, smart finish into bottom corner of net following Barnett’s pass from byline)

Bookings: None

Referee: Simon Hooper (Swindon) - Avoided any controversy and not once did he have to show a yellow card 8

Attendance: 2,238

Entertainment: ✰✰✰

HEREFORD UNITED (4-4-2): Bartlett 7; Lowe 7, D Jones 7, Blanchett 5, Valentine 7; Marshall 6, Lunt 6, Gwynne 5 (Sonko 57, 5), Pugh 7 (Godsmark 87); MANSET 7, King 6. Subs (not used): Rose, Constantine, Done, Adamson, McCallum

DARLINGTON (4-4-2):

6 Liversedge: Made a good block to deny Manset but failed to collect cross which led to first goal;

5 Arnison: Subbed at the break as Staunton was not satisfied with his contribution

5 Plummer: Replaced Ian Miller but unable to stop Manset from charging through

6 Foster: Won his fair share of aerial balls but too much to ask to cover for all of his defensive team-mates

5 Barnett: Got forward to provide the assist for Collins’ goal but not his best game;

4 Convery: Handed a rare opportunity to impress but did not take it

5 Chandler: His influence was limited in one of his less impressive games

6 Davis: Kept it simple with plenty of short-range passes

6 J Smith: Is improving on earlier displays and played a key role in Collins’ goal;

4 Thomas: Ball just bounced off him at times; wasted a good chance in first half

7 Collins: Took his first goal in league football very well and unfortunate to see a first half effort saved

Subs:

Barnes (for Arnison 45): Normally a midfielder but slotted in well at rightback 6

Mulligan (for Convery 57): Will hope to improve on his crossing when next handed a chance 5

Diop (for Thomas 57): Held ball up well and was a nuisance to Hereford on a promising debut 6

(not used): Jones (gk), Burn, Groves, Main

MAN OF THE MATCH

MATHIEU Manset – Darlington never got to grips with the strong and pacey French forward.