Quakers need to find killer instinct

Aug 26 2008 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

DARLINGTON manager Dave Penney admits his side’s lack of killer instinct is starting to concern him.

The Quakers travel to Vicarage Road to take on Championship side Watford in the Carling Cup after suffering an agonising late defeat against Gillingham – a game in which Penney believes his side were short-changed again.

A slew of chances fell to Billy Clarke, Ricky Ravenhill and Neil Austin on Saturday but, once again, none were dispatched and Penney’s men were made to pay the price for their profligacy when they conceded an injury-time winner to Garry Richards from a contentiously awarded corner.

With last season’s top scorer Tommy Wright sold to Aberdeen before the season started, their goal-scoring problems are perhaps inevitable. But Penney believes they have enough good attacking players to reverse their problems in front of goal.

“We’ve played well in every game this season – we were excellent for 80 minutes against Gillingham but just couldn’t put away our chances,” he said.

“It’s been a similar story throughout the season so far – good performances, but we haven’t scored enough. We’ve given ourselves a good platform with the way we’ve played in defence and midfield, but we just haven’t been able to put teams away.

“People talked a bit at the start of the season about it taking time to gel, but I think all of the new players have settled in well, so we’re not blaming that or bad fortune. We just need to score more goals and the lads know that.

“Saturday was a very disappointing way to lose, and it’s never made easier when it’s in controversial circumstances. I have been told that it was not a corner and that makes it even worse. But we’ve got to get over it quickly, there is no point in feeling sorry for ourselves.”

Penney is considering starts for Ryan Valentine and Liechtenstein international midfielder Franz Burgmeier at Vicarage Road in a game that he admits the Quakers are second favourites to win.

The Darlington manager took his coaching badges with tonight’s opposite number, Adie Boothroyd, and knows what to expect against a team managed by one of England’s most high-profile young managers.

“Watford were a Premier League team a couple of seasons ago so obviously it’s going to be a difficult, tough game for us.

“They’re going to be challenging at the top of the Championship this season but if we put in a similar performance to the Walsall game, then we’ll certainly give them a game. I know Adie Boothroyd from the coaching courses and he’s a good man and his CV shows why he’s so highly regarded. I’ll go for a beer with him after the game, I’m sure, but I’d like to have given them a really good game before.”