Dagenham and Redbridge 2 Darlington 0

Oct 11 2009 Sunday Sun

STEVE STAUNTON now knows the huge size of the task facing him if he is to keep Darlington in the Football League after this 2-0 dismal defeat at Dagenham.

The problems that have plagued the Quakers so far this season were plain to see at Victoria Road yesterday – namely the tendency to give away careless goals and the lack of any cutting edge.

“We just can’t keep giving silly goals away,” said Staunton.

“We spoke about it during the week and also before the game, but look what’s happened.

“That handed Dagenham the confidence to get their noses in front and control the game.

“I was under no illusions when I took the job.

“I knew it wasn’t going to be a bed of roses, and it is a long, tough job ahead.

“We had a good last 15 minutes, but I wanted to see that sort of reaction straight after we went two goals down.”

Quakers held their own against the third-placed side for the first 17 minutes, but a clanger by experienced keeper Russell Hoult gifted Dagenham the opening goal.

The on-loan ’keeper held the shot by Peter Gain, and threw the ball out to the left towards Jeff Smith, but it was intercepted by Danny Green, who played a one-two with Paul Benson and beat Hoult with a left-foot shot to the bottom corner.

Darlington then conceded a second goal just 58 seconds later.