STAND-IN skipper Alan White hopes Quakers' confidence will have received a much-needed shot in the arm thanks to Saturday's surprise win at Peterborough.

The victory at the League Two runners-up came after an eight-game winless run that had ended hopes of automatic promotion and shredded the momentum that had been built.

But White hopes Saturday's 2-0 success will have restored self-belief ahead of this Saturday's play-off semi-final first leg with Rochdale.

"We know, and everybody else knows, that we've been playing poorly since the start of March, especially the week before Peterborough against Dagenham when we started okay but then fell to pieces," said White.

"I think a lot of it's been down to confidence. There's been some big games and people got a bit uptight. In those situations people maybe didn't make the right decisions - made a bad pass or maybe rushed things.

"But on Saturday everyone felt as though there was nothing to lose and it should have been like that the previous week against Dagenham.

"Hopefully the win will give us confidence and stand us in good stead for Rochdale."

Darlington-born White was made captain at London Road as Steve Foster was rested. The usual skipper will return against Rochdale, the team against whom White received the first of his two red cards this season.

White was captain for that game too, but being dismissed in a 3-1 defeat ranks as one of his lowest points of his campaign.

Winning at Peterborough, however, the club he played on loan for last season, was one of the highlights.

"It was my first win as captain so I'm really pleased because I'd been getting a bit of stick about it from the lads," said White.

"Every time I had been captain things hadn't gone well.

"There was a good performance against MK Dons but apart from that we hadn't done well so I'm pleased with the result; it proves I'm no Jonah.

"When you're captain you get a bit more uptight and aggressive, you feel more responsible."

White is relishing Saturday's clash with Dale who are expected to bring a large contingent of fans having received 4,000 tickets.

"We didn't play very well in the away game down there," he said. "We started okay but then gave away a sloppy goal and lost our confidence.

"I owe Rochdale one after that red card so playing them is spot on for me. The referee was terrible that day, I think it was one of his first games. I hope we don't get him again."

Tickets for Saturday's game are available at the Darlington Arena ticket office, open 9am-6pm today tomorrow and Friday, and on Saturday 9am until kick-off at 5.35pm due to Sky television coverage. No ticket details for the away leg, Sat May 17 (12.00), have yet been announced.

3:03am Wednesday 7th May 2008

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