Harris salutes battling qualities following win in North East

ASSISTANT MANAGER Terry Harris praised the battling qualities shown by his players during the win at Hartlepool on Saturday.

The game was accompanied by constant, heavy gusts of wind blowing in off the North Sea, which made it difficult to play football at Victoria Park.

In the first half, kicking against the conditions, the visitors found themselves under a lot of pressure and were thankful to Tony Roberts (pictured right) for a number of important saves.

Then, after seeing out the initial storm, Daggers capitalised in the second period to record their third away win of the campaign.

“It was horrendous, it really was,” said Harris. “There was a gale-force wind going from one end of the pitch to the other and it really did make life difficult for both parties.

“We had the wind in the first half and the minute you put a ball forward it just went out the other end.

“In the second half, it was a different game because the ball didn’t go out, which made it a stop-start and ugly game really.”

He added: “We’ve gone overnight and won at Carlisle and now gone overnight and won at Hartlepool, but we’ve done well away from home.

“We got a point at Charlton, we drew at Colchester, we won at Yeovil and now Carlisle and Hartlepool as well, so our away form isn’t that bad.

“It’s not necessarily surprising, because we try to play exactly the same way away as we do at home.

“The disappointing facts, certainly at home, are the late goals which have killed us.

“If you look at those lost points, they could make the difference from being where we are to being mid-table.”