DARLO 2 ROTHERHAM 0

Barry and Paul will be almost suicidle now after Darlington managed to do the double over their team in a matter of weeks.

Just when you think you have settled for relegation, you have come to terms with it.  We are crap, adrift by a mile at the bottom of the football league and doomed to playing non league football next season.   What then goes and happens?  Staunton seems to build a decent squad and we now look competitive and that little munchkin in your head starts telling you there is a chance of survival

Staunton now has his squad and what a difference from a couple of months ago.  It was getting embarrassing being a Darlo supporter but in the last couple of games we have shown that the new faces at the club and some hard work on the training pitch have paid dividends.  It was disrespectful of Rotherham boss Ronnie Moore to call it embarrassing though, he will see that this Darlo team will start winning more games than we lose in the next few months.

The victory takes Darlington to six points of second bottom Grimsby and 12 points from safety. 

The same starting 11 was chosen that had lost against Northampton Town, a nice thing to see as we are at least starting to get to know the players a bit.

The game started comfortably for The Quakers with stuttering Rotherham failing to cause the Quakers new look defence any problems of note.  And it was the home team who should have taken the elad on 17 minutes when the ball fell to in form Tadgh Purcell.  With the goal at his mercy he dragged his shot wide of the left upright.

But just minutes later he made up for his earlier miss.  Curtis Main, who battled hard all game, nodded the ball back to the edge of the penalty area and Purcell smashed the ball through the crowded area and into the back of the net.

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Rotherham did have a chance when they were gifted the opportunity after an unfortunate piece of Fabian Barthez’esque goalkeeping from Shane Redmond.  He came flying out of his box to try and clear a high ball through on goal.  He luckily skipped through the first challenge and then had the opportunity to clear.  But the ball got stuck under his feet and his scuffed clearance went to Danny Harrison in the centre circle.  With an empty goal at his mercy he tried to send the ball into the net.  His high shot was too slow and went inches wide with Alan White on hand anyway to clear if needed.

In the second half the impressive Gareth Waite doubled our lead.  Curtis Main was sent clear on the right wing and headed to the penalty area to cross for Mor Diop.  The French striker could not gain control of the ball and saw his first effort blocked and then laid the rebound off to Waite who eventually poked the ball home to see Darlington take a two goal lead for the first time this season.

Darlington played out the rest of the game in a comfortable manner.  Ian Miller pulled off a crucial last ditch tackle to deny Adam Le Fondre a goalscoring chance, while Paddy Deane sent a good chance wide later on in the half.

The referee showed 5 minutes of injury time but in all honesty Darlo never looked in trouble throughout the match and for once it wasn’t a time to be shouting for the ref to blow his whistle.  The Quakers had put in their best performance of the season and also managed to do the double over The Millers.  We now have a team who can play football, create chances and also block the opposition from playing.  Will we stay up?  MMmmm it is going to be tough, but a month ago I would have said we had no chance whatsoever, now I feel we have a glimmer of hope.  A victory on Tuesday night over Lincoln City and things will look a lot more promising.  If we go down then lets go down fighting!

Goals: Purcell (19, 1-0), Waite (52, 2-0)

Bookings: White (13, foul). Main (42, foul); Broughton (75, foul); Madden (78, time wasting)

Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northampton)

Attendance: 2,231

Darlington (4-4-2): Redmond, Madden, Miller, White, Giddings, J Smith (Gray 85), Waite, Dempsey, Purcell, Main (Mulligan 70), Diop (Deane 61). Subs (not used): Liversedge (gk), Byrne, G Smith, Groves

Rotherham United (4-4-2): Warrington, Tonge, Fenton, Sharps, Gunning, Cummins (Broughton 61), Harrison (Marshall 75), Mills (Roberts 55), Law, Pope, Le Fondre. Subs (not used): Lund (gk), Joseph, Ellison, Taylor

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Visit the forum to add your own comments - the submissions so far are shown below:

AndyPark - 7th February 2010 14:46:14

Even Steve managed a smile.

beatroute66 - 7th February 2010 22:22:36

He is mental.

uncovered - 7th February 2010 22:25:46

got to admit staunton is a proper mental case. i could watch him alone all match for his touchline antics. I have never, even through the hodgy days, seen a manager go on like he does. this photo gives us an insight into his madness.

e4sby - 7th February 2010 23:58:07

I knew i recognised that face from somewhere.

Watching Stan is worth the entrance fee alone!

pgowling - 8th February 2010 18:27:30

The performance sounds very promising and fingers crossed for some decent results going forward. Getting hammered each game was starting to get a tad repetitive... c'mon Darlo!

LoidLucan - 8th February 2010 21:06:32

Remember that spooky film The Shining when Jack Nicholson is going doolally and bursts through the door with an axe.... "Here's Stevie!" He's defo got that look

mikkyx - 8th February 2010 21:07:04

What happened to the Full Metal Jacket post?

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