DAVID MIRFIN came through only his second 90 minutes in eight games and immediately declared: “I’m ready for another.”
The 22-year-old reprised his central defensive partnership with Nathan Clarke against Port Vale and can’t wait to carry it on against Hartlepool at the Galpharm tomorrow (7.45).
“It was good to be back, and while I was a little rusty at times, I felt better as the game went on,” said the Sheffield-based club product.
“I got the shout on Friday, and while I half expected it after Richard Keogh went back to Bristol City (after two months on loan), it was still good to hear it from the gaffer.
“I’ve always enjoyed playing alongside Nathan and we’ve grown up together really.
“This was only the third time we’ve played as a pair this season, so we still need to gel a bit, but hopefully it can be a regular thing
“It wasn’t the perfect performance by either myself or the team, but there’s definitely something to build on and hopefully we can go forward from here.
Mirfin added: “It was certainly a big improvement on Tranmere (where Town lost 3-0) both in the way we defended and the way we attacked.
“It was great to get three goals so early on (Andy Booth, Ronnie Wallwork and Clarke all struck inside the first 21 minutes), and a little disappointing that we couldn’t get some more.
“But it was more disappointing that we let them score.
“We’d set our stall out to keep a clean sheet and we really wanted to do it.
“I suppose we only let them get one when they had about five decent chances, and (goalkeeper) Matty Glennon did really well when (David) McGoldrick was through one on one early on.
Giving the one away made it a bit more tense than it needed to be, but at least we successfully shut up shop in the second half.
“At half-time we talked about being that bit tighter and more professional about the way we were defending.
“It was crucial we didn’t allow them a second, because that would have made it very nervy.”
While Town are 17th, Hartlepool are 10th after a 1-0 win at Millwall on Saturday.
Anthony Sweeney’s stunning second-half strike sealed victory.
Millwall had the better of the first period but Pool dominated the second and Sweeney smashed a 25-yard shot beyond Lenny Pidgeley after 50 minutes.
Pool keeper Jan Budtz pulled off a great reflex save in the first half to deny Jamie O’Hara and Alan Dunne and Ahmet Brkovic also went close.
Ben Clark missed a great headed chance for Pool and James Brown dragged a glorious opportunity wide after half-time.
