Story by Kevin Luff - 21st January 2006

Darlington are back on the road again this weekend as they take on Oxford United. David Hodgson's men have enjoyed some good form of late and will be looking for a good result at The Kassam Stadium to help strengthen the bid for a play-off push which has gathered momentum since Christmas and in recent weeks. There is a good mood about the TFM Darlington Arena, especially amongst the fans.

"As daft as it seems we have always known there is a good feeling because the players, and the manner in which they have conducted themselves, even when things were not going particularly well, where in good spirits. I think in all due respect that is what has carried them through to go on this little run. That's down to players," said Hodgson.

However despite the good fortune David Hodgson and his players have enjoyed the Darlington boss says that there is still plenty of work to do. Quakers have only lost one game in eight and speaking on Quakers World Hodgson jokingly admitted his desire to always improve must make him one of the worst people around to work for.

"I think there is a lot more to do right," admitted Hodgson. "I must be one of the worst people to work for because even if we are very good I will always find something that we can make better. Even yesterday in training I stopped the session and pointed out that what we had done so far was good but not good enough. If it was good enough we would be higher up the table than what we are and I expect them to produce more. I know we can and will."

Oxford United have found results on home soil difficult to come by this season. The U's have won just one of their last five home games but manager Brian Talbot is staying positive however and believes his side will turn things around sooner rather than later. Speaking on the club's official website Talbot said:

"We don't seem to win at home very often but we are going to turn that around. We are very positive, very determined and we are up for the challenge. We will have the best eleven we have at the club at the moment out on the pitch on Saturday and they are ready for it. They will do everything possible to win as many games as possible here between now and the end of the season," said Talbot. "As the season has progressed I've realised that perhaps the squad isn't quite good enough and we were making do. That has changed now and we will have sixteen players on Saturday who can all play in this division."

Darlington's suspension worries have eased ahead of this game. Akpo Sodje has now served his three match ban for the red card he received on New Year's eve. Meanwhile defender Matthew Clarke is fit, well and ready to resume his place in the heart of the Darlington defence. The game comes too soon for Neil Wainwright and Sam Russell who are both hoping to be ready for the following game against Mansfield Town at the end of January.

Oxford are set to hand a home debut to Andy Burgess. The former Rushden & Diamonds midfielder signed a few days ago and has already made his first appearances in a yellow shirt. The twenty-four year old has made over 200 appearances for the Diamonds, although he started this season late after breaking his leg in a pre-season game against Leicester. Captain Chris Hargreaves, Chris Willmott and Leo Roget are all fully fit again and should make the squad. For anyone not able to make the game on Saturday remember Quakers World for full commentary on the game with Ray Simpon at the microphone.

Last ten meetings

2005/06
League 2	Darlington	1-2	Oxford Utd	17-09-05
2004/05
League 2	Darlington	1-1	Oxford Utd	08-01-05
League 2	Oxford Utd	1-2	Darlington	10-10-04
2003/04
Division 3	Darlington	2-0	Oxford Utd	17-04-04
Division 3	Oxford Utd	3-1	Darlington	01-11-03
2002/03
Division 3	Oxford Utd	1-1	Darlington	14-01-03
Division 3	Darlington	0-1	Oxford Utd	17-08-02
2001/02
Division 3	Oxford Utd	1-2	Darlington	20-04-02
Division 3	Darlington	1-0	Oxford Utd	10-11-01
1966/67
Division 3 Old	Oxford Utd	3-2	Darlington	15-04-67

Oxford United's last five games