Quakers look to Burgmeier for goals

Aug 23 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

DARLINGTON have been told to convert performances into points and manager Dave Penney is banking on his strikers to do it for him.

Quakers striker Pawel Abbott is yet to play this season after an Achilles injury and without him his team have scored just once in their two League Two games this term – both drawn. Penney, though, has no concerns about the way his side have been playing ahead of today’s visit of Gillingham. “We’d have liked a win but the performances have been excellent, other than the second half against Exeter,” he said. “At Walsall and Notts County, we were the better side.

“We’re making plenty of chances, but we need to start scoring more. We need to start getting three points and get our first win as soon as we can.”

The push for more goals will be boosted by the arrival of Franz Burgmeier, who is expected to make his debut after signing a one-year contract. The 26-year-old has played most of his club football on the left wing but was used in central midfield by Liechtenstein in their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. He also has a respectable return of seven goals from his 46 caps.

“At 26 he is a good age,” said Penney of his latest acquisition. “He has experience, including goals, on the international stage yet he is young enough to have some good years ahead of him.”

The Yorkshireman has urged fans at the Darlington Arena not to get impatient if their team struggle to make an early breakthrough today against a Gills side who are yet to record a win in any competition this season. “It is important our fans stay behind the team until the final whistle,” he said. “Because there will be times – maybe against Gillingham – when we have to be patient in breaking teams down.

“I know our supporters want us to play attractive football and that is what I want as well. We can’t rely on hitting long balls forward.”

Penney is still without defender Clayton Fortune, who is expected to miss out again with a shoulder injury. Even after Burgmeier’s signing, the Darlington boss still has only 17 senior players to choose from.