Penney felt his side left themselves open to the counter-attack

Darlington manager Dave Penney believes his side needs to be more cautious away from home after slipping to a 3-1 defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday.

The Quakers were punished at the back after passing up a string of chances in attack and Penney was left to rue his team's inability to take the spoils.

"We're playing too open and attractive football," he told BBC Tees.

"That's on the back of good results and thinking we can come away and play instead of battling out a result."

Saturday's trip to Bournemouth was the first of a string of matches that will provide the toughest test of Darlington's promotion credentials.

Shrewsbury, Luton and Wycombe lie in wait over the next weeks and Penney is fully aware of the test ahead.

"It's a big month for us, we've got six or seven tough games in October," he said.

"We've got to make sure we bounce back."