Story by Kevin Luff - 24th February 2006

Darlington head to London today as they prepare to take on Leyton Orient this weekend. Quakers have lost ground on their play-off rivals thanks to disappointing results against Peterborough United and Shrewsbury. Quakers really need to start getting points back on the board quickly and a point at Brisbane Road must be seen as a bare minimum when the two sides run out at three o'clock.

"I am not disputing that," said Hodgson when asked if a point was a requirement. "I think we should have got a minimum of four points from the last two. I was very happy with the result at Boston and in the end I was quite happy with the result against Bristol Rovers because we clawed a point back as opposed to being in front and losing it. Of course then you go and have the Peterborough game which was a fiasco if ever there was one and we loose ground. Then we slipped up big style against Shrewsbury and with that it puts more pressure on us. But all I can do is keep working with them, keep them believing in themselves and lets get ourselves down to Leyton Orient and get at them."

The twin disappointments have left the season at something of a cross-road. The play-offs are still within the grasps of David Hodgson's men however they will not only have to chalk up points quickly and consistently they will also have to fend off an advancing Wrexham side who have games in hand on them. Quakers did enjoy excellent form from Christmas onwards which catapulted them up the table and Hodgson reflects just how quickly expectation can rise and fall at the club. However the Darlington boss admits if he can get expectation back again before the end of the season he will know he is doing something right.

"One win in between would have kept us in seventh spot. All would have looked rosy still but we slipped out of that and it all comes crumbling down," reflected Hodgson. "Its incredible, we put together a few wins, the run we had was very good, we haven't had that for a long time, and the expectation is fantastic. Then one bad defeat and my god it comes crumbling down quicker than anything I've witnessed in football. We now have to build it all up again and obviously if we can get the hype up again we know we are doing the right thing."

Hodgy has so far resisted the obvious route of blasting his players for the poor showing against Shrewsbury. Given the run they put together and their relative inexperience the manager feels he has no position to be critical of his side. The defeat against Shrewsbury was a massive disappointment for the players who now need to pick themselves up and get back on track.

"The reaction of the players was mega down," said Hodgson. "But there is still twelve games left. Normally they come off in drips and drabs but they came off as a unit. They were really down. I didn't have to say anything in the changing room. I said a few words but nothing really massive. Nor was I going to come on the radio and let fly because how can I on the back of what the kids have done?"

Quakers will not travel to this game in perfect conditions. Whilst midfielder Anthony Peacock made an appearance in the reserves and will be pushing for a place in the team experienced midfielder Phil Stamp is out. Meanwhile Neil Wainwright should figure thanks to the absence of Johnson. There is also a question mark over Matt Clarke which will give Hodgson a defensive conundrum to sort out.

Last ten meetings

2005/06
League 2	Darlington	0-1	Leyton Orient	13-08-05
2004/05
League 2	Leyton Orient	1-0	Darlington	26-02-05
League 2	Darlington	3-0	Leyton Orient	11-09-04
2003/04
Division 3	Leyton Orient	1-0	Darlington	03-01-04
Division 3	Darlington	2-1	Leyton Orient	25-08-03
2002/03
Division 3	Darlington	2-2	Leyton Orient	03-05-03
Division 3	Leyton Orient	2-1	Darlington	28-09-02
2001/02
Division 3	Leyton Orient	0-0	Darlington	26-02-02
Division 3	Darlington	3-0	Leyton Orient	18-09-01
2000/01
Division 3	Darlington	1-1	Leyton Orient	31-03-01

Orient's last five games