Gary Mills - Under pressure

Quakers head for Nottingham on Tuesday night as they take on a County side who are yet to win at home and a manager feeling the pressure. Whilst Darlington were on the receiving end of a 2-1 defeat at the weekend the players, management and fans know that the Quakers are capable of far better than they showed against Bury and will be aiming to reproduce the form they showed against Southend and Oxford on Tuesday night.

Quite if Notts County can say this is something else entirely. Relegated last season the Magpies are one of the biggest names in the basement division but have hardly set the league alight. Indeed the black and white side of Nottingham sits closer to Burton Albion than they do Nottingham Forest at the present time.

Saturday's 3-1 capitulation at the hands of Mansfield Town could have been a lot worse had it not been for their keeper Saul Deeney. Speaking on their official website assistant manager Darron Gee described the performance as outstanding. "Without a doubt, Saul was our outstanding player," said Gee. "He made some fine saves and the lads recognise he was outstanding have told him so. I was pleased he saved the penalty because Saul didn't deserve to be beaten more than three times, because he was excellent."

Unfortunately the assistant manager did not hold back in his comments on the rest of the team. In the post match interviews he blasted the players lack of passion and desire to win the game against the Stags. Undoubtedly County will have to perform much better if they are to avoid a similar set words after the game on Tuesday night. Whilst the players are taking flack for their performance the Magpies fans, of which there were close to 2,000 at Mansfield, are in unrest and very unhappy with manager Gary Mills.

Darlington meanwhile need to bounce back after the disappointing showing against Bury on Saturday. While the result was a let down for all concerned it is perhaps, more than anything, a gentle remainder of just how far Darlington have come in such a short space of time. Speaking in the Northern Echo Ian Clark is hopeful that they can put it right on Tuesday night.

"Hopefully Saturday was a blip and we can put things straight on Tuesday night," said Clark. "The manager knows we're all bending over backwards to get back into the team and if others aren't performing we will get our chance. But as long as the lads are doing well then I'm happy for them to keep me out of the team. There is an abundance of self-belief in the squad and with that I'm sure we'll do well."

Quakers have not met Notts County at Meadow lane since the late '90s when they managed a 1-1 draw in 1997. Two early goals settled the match that day as Darren Roberts put Quakers in front on two minutes before a couple of minutes later County equalised. That season County won thirteen of their home games in the league. So far the Magpies have yet to win one.

To all those travelling down on Tuesday night have a safe trip.

Notts County's last five games