Smith calls for faster starts (From The Northern Echo)

Smith calls for faster starts

10:13am Monday 15th March 2010 in

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Darlington need to start matches with a higher tempo if they are to avoid any repeat of Saturday’s poor first-half performance, says midfielder Gary Smith.

Quakers followed up last Tuesday’s impressive 1-1 draw at Bury with a turgid opening 45 minutes at Northampton Town, whose two-goal half-time lead proved sufficient.

In both matches Darlington used a 4-3-3 formation but manager Steve Staunton ditched that at the break on Saturday, although Smith points out that it was a lack of urgency that cost Quakers.

“I think 4-3-3 is alright but we just need to move the ball quicker. In the first half we were probably dwelling on the ball too much,” said the midfielder, whose appearance at Bury last week was his first in nine games.

“You have to earn the right to play, turn their defence, then with the threeman midfield you should get more time on the ball.

“We got out of the blocks slowly, taking too much time on the ball, but in the second half we got crosses in and were more positive.

“We had Josh Gray going up the wing. He got some crosses in and we looked like we were going to score, whereas we didn’t in the first half.

“If we’d got a goal back early on we’d have had a good chance. It didn’t come but at least we kept going.

“Tadgh Purcell hit the post, Gareth Waite’s shot went just wide but we just need to keep playing positively between now and the end of the season and we’ll get some results.

“We need to get that winning mentality and I’m sure it’s going to come.

We’re creating chances, which we weren’t earlier in the season, so that’s a positive.

“We need to get out of the block quicker. Against Bury we did, but this time we didn’t – that’s the difference.”

After being out of favour, Smith is keen to keen to keep his place in the line-up.

“I was out of the team for a while and it was horrible really,” he admitted.

“I kept working hard in training hoping that I would get another chance. I’ve been given that chance and now I want to stay in the team.”

Darlington do not have a midweek match, but this weekend’s game with Barnet is the first of two home fixtures inside four days.

The second is a week tomorrow versus Aldershot.