Big occasion an inspiration for Darlington
DAVE Penney will tell his players
to thrive on the occasion as Darlington
look to make home advantage
count in the first leg of
today's play-off showdown with
Rochdale.
A bumper crowd is expected as
Quakers begin their quest for
League One football at the Darlington
Arena.
With the return leg at Spotland
in seven days' time, Penney
knows how important it is to gain
the upper hand on home
soil.
But rather than let the
big occasion get to them,
the Quakers boss believes
his players should
use the adrenaline to
their advantage.
And with several
players boasting
experience of
play-off semi-finals,
Penney has
no reservations
about how they
will handle this
evening's clash.
Steve Foster, Gregg
Blundell, Ricky Ravenhill
and Tim Ryan were
part of Penney's Doncaster
Rovers side that
beat Dagenham &
Redbridge in the Football
Conference final
at Stoke's Britannia
Stadium in 2003.
Two years ago, Rob
Purdie achieved promotion
via the same
route with Hereford.
"It depends on how
the players react to it,"
said Penney.
"I'm hoping they've got
some nerves and some excitement
because that
will make them play better.
"It raises everybody's game
when there's a big crowd and a
good atmosphere.
"I won't have any worries
about the players. There are
four who came with me who
have been involved in the
play-offs and Rob Purdie
was at Hereford so
there's a few that
have experienced it
and it's how they
deal with it on the
day."
Typically, the
Yorkshireman remains
unconcerned
by Darlington's recent
record against Dale -
they have failed to
win in their last four
meetings.
Last season it was
shortly before Penney's
appointment that
caretaker duo Martin
Gray and Neil Maddison
were helpless to prevent a
humiliating 5-0 home defeat
at the hands of Dale.
But that record is not
something Penney wants
to dwell on as Quakers
look to set the record
straight later today in
front of the Sky cameras.
He said: "The league's
finished now and it's all
about what happens this
Saturday and the following Saturday.
"Obviously the onus is on us
being the home team this week.
Having said that, I don't think it
really matters. A lot of teams
have won away from home in this
league.
"The pressure is always on the
home team to get a result, but we
have to be patient and try to play
our normal game at home.
"We have to get it down and
pass it like we did at Peterborough."
There is little doubt that last
week's win at London Road has
given Penney and his squad a
much-needed lift ahead of the
play-offs.
After putting behind them a
dreadful run of just one win in 11
with a makeshift line-up against
Posh, Penney believes his players
have demonstrated what they're
capable of achieving.
"We beat Peterborough easily
without a centre forward in the
team and everybody was excellent,"
said Penney, who will recall
Tommy Wright, Ryan Valentine,
Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu and
Julian Joachim to his squad.
Darlington's spate of injuries,
particularly to strikers, has arguably
cost Penney's men automatic
promotion.
But eleven years after captaining
Swansea City at Wembley in
the Third Division play-off final
- in which they lost to a lastminute
Northampton goal - Penney
hopes to make up for that disappointment
with Darlington.
"I'll only enjoy the play-offs if
we win them," said Penney.
"I think we've had a good season
so far, we can have a great
season by getting promoted.
"It's a great occasion and
not many teams can get in the
play-offs. There are seven
teams who have achieved
something in this league this
season and we're one of them."
While Penney can only the
rue the unavailability of club
record signing Pawel Abbott,
the Quakers boss does not
expect to be dealing with many
niggling injuries with an
appearance at Wembley on the
horizon.
He said: "There have been
cases where players have been
playing when they're not 100
per-cent fit.
"That's disappointing and
they have to be professional. If
they're not fit they're not ready
and they can't afford to let
people down.
"If you've got a chance to
play at Wembley then you
might try to hide a knock."
With over 6,500 home tickets
sold last night, and Dale selling
almost half their 4,000
allocation, Darlington will
almost certainly attract their
biggest gate of the season.
Penney has been critical of
the negativity of home support,
and it was in the wake of those
comments that the Quakers
boss was pleased with the
backing his side received in
their last home game against
Dagenham.
"I think the last home game,
after I'd had a bit of a pop in
the press the atmosphere was
fantastic," said Penney.
"Hopefully we're going to
have triple our normal average
for a game and hopefully we'll
get 10,000 plus and we can have
a great atmosphere.
"It's a lot better for the
players.
"There were 10,000 at
Peterborough last week and it
just gives the players a buzz
and a lift, they can enjoy the
game more."
■ Tickets for Darlington's
return leg at Rochdale next
Saturday (12pm) will be on sale
to season ticket holders, one
ticket per season ticket limit,
immediately after the home leg
this evening and also Monday
and Tuesday. Remaining
tickets will go on general sale
on Wednesday.
Darlington have received
2,000 tickets for the game.
Prices are £18 for adults and
£10 concessions. Contact the
ticket office on 0871 8551883.
■ Motorists are being urged to
avoid roads around the
Darlington Arena ground today
before and after the club's playoff
semi-final.
Darlington Borough Council
has urged people who are not
attending the game to avoid
roads near the Arena.
A council spokesman has
asked people to use other
routes between 4.30pm and
5.30pm, as well as after the
game, which is scheduled to
finish at 7.15pm.
Supporters are reminded
that shuttle buses from town
centre will commence at
3.50pm and then be available
every 15 minutes.
9:01am Saturday 10th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Geoff Gale on 9:27am Sat 10 May 08
Why have we only been allocated 2000 tickets for the replay when their away stand holds 3644 ? Why are we been charged £18 per ticket when the home fans only pay £12-£15. This is not Rochdale milking a lost cause is it.....
Why have we only been allocated 2000 tickets for the replay when their away stand holds 3644 ? Why are we been charged £18 per ticket when the home fans only pay £12-£15. This is not Rochdale milking a lost cause is it.....
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