Darlington fans make feelings known after being thrashed at Scunthorpe amid poor start

Darlington fans make feelings known after being thrashed at Scunthorpe amid a poor start to the 2023/24 season for the Quakers.

Scunthorpe stormed to a 4-0 victory, making it two wins from 3 and currently sit top of the National League North table, while Darlo are second from bottom, lost all three, scoring 1 and conceded 8.

The first goal of the game came on 26 minutes when Danny Whitehall picked up the ball on the edge of the area and he decided to take on the shot. His shot took a big deflection and ended up in the back of the net. Taylor watched the ball go straight in.

Scunthorpe doubled their lead just before the break, Whitehall stepped up to take a free-kick, from 25-yards-out. His strike beat the wall and went in the top-left corner. Taylor stood hopeless in the Darlington goal.

It was 3-0 to the hosts with around 10 minutes of normal time remaining, Alfie Beestin got on the end of a through ball and he found himself in a one-on-one situation. From just inside the area, he placed the ball past Taylor and into the bottom corner.

Then in the 93rd minute, Dion Sembie-Ferris saw a deflected effort go over the goalkeeper to seal the win and the Iron go three unbeaten at the start of a season for the first time since 2017.

We may only be 3 games in, but with a lot of the same old mistakes still being made as has been all year and Darlo continuing to shoot themselves in the foot gift wrapping goals to the opposition, it’s easy to predict that things are going to get toxic real quick.

Concerning. pic.twitter.com/nXXXsMj7rQ

— TH. (@TimHickman1994) August 15, 2023

Scunthorpe manager Jimmy Dean: “I was talking about how many saves Ross (Fitzsimons) has had to make,” he started.

“I think he made one really good one when we got caught with the ball turned around the corner. We identified that, changed it, and stopped that from happening again. Ross made a great save to put the ball off the post. It was an early warning sign for us but after that I don’t think he made a save, and that’s credit to the performance.

“Darlington came out second half and had another go, but we managed it well and the last half hour was superb. I was really pleased to see the substitutes impact on the game. I don’t think they did very well on Saturday. I’m delighted.

“There are a couple of boys that were unhappy that I didn’t make changes, but it was about the performance.

“I could have made ten changes after Tamworth. Personally, I don’t think there was a big difference with the performance from Saturday (against Peterborough Sports). Tonight, the ball has gone in the back of the net. We’ve had a bit of luck – we’ve forced that luck though, by shooting and getting in good area and getting the balls into areas where we can score goals.

“I’m not sure I’ve picked the same team twice when it has mattered, so I wanted to do that. I wanted a bit of momentum in the side and a little bit of familiarity. You could see how jointed the rotations were, how much cohesion there was in the performance and how comfortable everybody looked.

“The fourth was fantastic hold-up play from Danny Elliott and a great transition from Dion. The third and second goals were dream goals. The free-kick in the top corner and the back to front play in the third goal is what we’ve been working on, so it was great to see it happen.”

“Nights like this are what I’ve been thinking about and talking to my players about,” he stated.

“You don’t have to give the fans much to give a reaction, and they were fantastic once again. It was thoroughly enjoyable.

“It’s fantastic. I need to stay level. If we lost tonight, people would have been saying something different. We win tonight and we’re top of the league. I’ll enjoy it tonight, I’ll enjoy it tomorrow, but Thursday we’re back in. We’ve played three games.

“It’ll be a difficult game at Rushall on Saturday and we’re hoping our fans will turn that into a home game of sorts. Get with us and enjoy the ride.

“You can talk about competitive games, but for me, that’s eight unbeaten. We haven’t lost since Winterton, which is quite a way back. There’s three EFL sides in that, and coming into the season, that’s three National League North sides.

“We shouldn’t knock performances like that. Last year, we went to a Step Three side in the FA Cup and lost. It’s fantastic. We can really see a progression in what we’re doing, and we want it to continue.

As mentioned, Darlington fans make feelings known after being thrashed at Scunthorpe amid a poor start…

@Jordan_Toddy: That’s what’s annoying more than anything imo. 3 months off 160k and it’s the same reason we’re conceding goals but we look like we’re not gunna score any either. Least we looked like scoring last year

@Hollis79N: Well done to those that went. You deserve better.

@PaulGC84: I’ve never understood why “supporters” boo or chant at their own players like that. Whilst the performances are disappointing, there is no excuse for this. It’s embarrassing. Hopefully, the board realise a management change is needed and quickly.

@davey2k23: We’ve won one game in 13 in the league and they’ve just done a 200 mile round trip to watch us get beat 4-0 they’ve got a right to be pissed off

@McTweetFace2: 300+ made the trip on a Tuesday night. The fans raised £160k. Once again the fans turns up, the players and management don’t. But AA got a 2 year contract because he ‘gets it’. Gets what? Relegated?

@davey2k23: I’m trying to be as positive as possible but we’re awful aren’t we 😂😂

@darlo_paul12: That was an absolute shambles ! No team work no tatics a clueless manager and baffling subs!!

@DylanGilbert93: Armstrong’s time must be up

@Mrrklls: Seriously time for a fresh pair of eyes before the club loose even more people through the gates.. It’s clear we’re going nowhere with Alun, same crap every week 😴

@PhilKemp5: Think we have some decent players functioning without a plan and without a system. It was too poor for words tonight. Worried.

@StuNorthYorks: His time is up, utterly woeful.

@Rennie__23: Get Alun out that was painful 😣

@darlofan_dfc: Alun it’s time to go

@darlofanatic1: That was awful to watch! No effort absolute shambles!

@brandon20608: Armstrong out