PLAY-OFF heartbreak is bad enough, but to go through it two years running would be a cross too great to bear for Tarkan Mustafa.

Last year the defender narrowly missed out on promotion to Division Two with former club Rushden and Diamonds, losing the play-off final to Cheltenham after seeing off Rochdale in the semis.

But with the Daggers having to travel away to Morecambe in the second leg, Mustafa is happy the way it has worked out: "I'm hoping that I'm a good omen as in all the two legged games I've played in, I've always played the second leg away from home and have always been on the winning side.

"A lot of people like to wrap the semis up at home, but I prefer going away. I believe that you could become a bit relaxed on your own turf, but if you're away you've got to keep your guard up."

So as crunch time arrives, the man with the play-off knowledge will be preparing himself and the team, to make sure he doesn't see a repeat of last year: "When you look back you always wish you had done better. You just have to keep going until the end. It only takes a few seconds to score a goal so you have to be alert all the time.

"But I've learnt from last year and there will be a few things I'll do differently. I'll be more focused on my job and will be using my experience to help the lads out, that's what Garry Hill bought me for."

May 1, 2003 10:30