Quakers need to get back on track tonight as they welcome Boston United. Dave Hodgson's men have lost the last two games and have gone four games without a win and could really do with recording a victory to halt the slide. Boston arrive for the game this evening in only marginally better form. One win in the last four sees them currently sat four places off the bottom when much better was expected of them.

Darlington's preparations for the game have not been helped with an injury to top scorer Akpo Sodje. The forward received a knock during the game at Bristol Rovers on Saturday and will miss out on tonights encounter. Quakers could call on Clyde Wijnhard to fill the gap up front left by Akpo after the forward trained properly for the first time yesterday. The manager has been left somewhat disappointed by Clyde's contribution so far this season in both the first team and the reserves. However Hodgy hopes that if he gets his chance tonight that he takes it.

"People are asking where Clyde has gone. People have forgot when Clyde was in the side he wasn't performing at all," said Hodgson yesterday afternoon. "He was well below his standards and he was creating us problems because he wasn't retaining the ball. His attitude on the training ground has been very good however his performances in the reserves I thought should have been a lot better. But having said that sometimes things happen and it gives you an opportunity again and I think maybe tomorrow might be a case where we throw him back in. He has to deliver the goods."

Darlington as they have proved already this season are more than capable of getting results on the board but after the recent sequence of results this will be the first serious test of character of the team as whole. Possibly however Darlington simply need a stroke of luck to get things moving. Quakers employed a 4-3-3 system for their last outing but with the injury to Akpo Sodje, despite a possible return for Clyde, it is unclear if Hodgson will stick with this formation or roll back to something seen previously.

Speaking in the Northern Echo assistant manager Mark Proctor is glad to have a game roll around so quickly so that they can try and put things right however admits that things are a little bit flat.

"It's good that another game has come around quickly and it will be a chance to put things right. It wasn't that long ago that we were second in the table and people were talking about our promotion chance," said Proctor. "Now, after two or three games, we're in the bottom half of the table and everybody is feeling down. All we need is a bit of good fortune for things to start going our way again and I'm sure we will be back up there."

Whilst recent results for Boston United have not been fantastic they will offer the hosts a tough test. Just like Darlington last season Boston have acquired a few old heads in their attempts to escape the basement division. Noel Whelan and Julian Joachim both arrived at York Street during the summer and have scored three goals apiece so far. However with the pair both landing two goals from their tally in one game their record is far from prolific. Trying to keep them at bay will be Darlington's defence however this is posing Dave Hodgson a few problems. Joey Hutchinson's move further up the pitch at Bristol Rovers allowed him to bring the ability of Shelton Martis into the fold however whilst the boss has admitted he would like to continue with the experiment he is worried that with the current form it is not perhaps the right time to do it.

For everyone travelling to the game tonight have a safe trip and remember credit card facilities are now back at the ground for your pre-match purchases. Match report and post match comments to follow early tomorrow morning on the official site.

Last eight meetings

2004/05
League 2	Darlington	1-0	Boston United	05-03-05
League 2	Boston	3-1	Darlington	18-12-04
2003/04
Division 3	Boston	1-0	Darlington	03-04-04
Division 3	Darlington	3-0	Boston	27-09-03
2002/03
Division 3	Boston	1-0	Darlington	19-03-03
Division 3	Darlington	2-3	Boston	19-10-02
1957/58
FA Cup	Darlington	5-3	Boston	07-12-57
1932/33
FA Cup	Darlington	1-0	Boston	26-11-32

Boston's last five games