Story by Kevin Luff - 3rd March 2006

Quakers make the relatively short trip to Spotland this weekend as they look to record their first victory in six games. Not only will Rochdale be standing in Darlington's way but also the weather. Conditions at Spotland are far ideal and the early indications are that this fixture might struggle to get the green light. Temperatures around the Dale area have barely struggled past zero.

The midweek game against Bury was lucky to go ahead with the pitch freezing over before the end. With temperatures set to fall well below zero again this evening and an early morning pitch inspection already pencilled in this one is touch and go. Darlington's management team went to see Rochdale in action during the week and to get a feel of what the much talked about surface was really like. Tons of sand has been dumped on the Spotland surface which makes things far from pretty.

"We are not expecting a decision until the morning, but when I went with Hodgy (manager David Hodgson) to watch Rochdale play Bury on Tuesday, the pitch was very poor and starting to freeze before the end," said Proctor, Darlington's assistant manager in the Evening Gazette. "But we will be ready if the game goes ahead. We're missing a few players, but we know we need to win this one. We can't let the gap between us and the play-off places get any bigger. Dale are a good, well organised side, but are not the same since selling their top scorer Grant Holt. We are in a similar position having lost a couple of strikers during the course of the season, but this is a game we can win, and Andy Cooke is capable of grabbing goals for us."

Injury and suspension problems are the main concerns going into this game. Skipper Matthew Clarke is highly doubtful with the groin problem that forced his absence from the game against Leyton Orient. Carlos Logan is set to miss out through injury. The left sided winger is suffering from either a groin problem but it could also be a double hernia. Neale McDermott has turned his ankle and is unlikely to figure. Neither will Phil Stamp who is not fit. Utility man Matty Appleby is also out after being sent off against Orient last weekend. There is better news for Darlington however. Simon Johnson, Neil Wainwright and Anthony Peacock are all available for selection.

Quakers are not the only ones with injury troubles. Hosts Rochdale also have several concerns going into this fixture. Defender Alan Goodall suffered a suspected broken cheekbone in the midweek derby draw with Bury and is likely to spend six weeks on the sidelines. Goodall will now see a specialist to determine the full extent of the injury, leaving manager Parkin without five first-team regulars. Mark Jackson (ankle), Gareth Griffiths (back), Tony Gallimore (knee) and Blair Sturrock (torn muscle) remain unavailable, but Rory McArdle returns from international duty with Northern Ireland Under-21s.

Rochdale have failed to record a win at Spotland since the end of November 2005. Recent results for Quakers have not been too encouraging but the performance against Leyton Orient should have yielded more. Unfortunately a lack of finishing cost Darlington badly and they really need to sort this out fast if they are to stay in contention for the play-offs. Many have already written off the chances of doing this but not manager David Hodgson.

"People will have written us off at the beginning of the season," declared Hodgson. "The real diehards, the people who know that football lasts for forty-six games will be sitting thinking 'Hey, we still have a chance'. I'd rather be sitting in this position than the position the club has been sitting in all the years gone by. The club is still well within in the pack and going for promotion."

Darlington's game at Rochdale, pitch inspection permitting, will kick off at 3pm. Full match commentary is available on Quakers World and full match report and post comments to follow in the evening.

Last ten meetings between Darlington and Rochdale

Rochdale's last five games

28-02-06	Rochdale	1-1	Bury	League 2
25-02-06	Cheltenham	1-1	Rochdale	League 2
14-02-06	Stockport	3-0	Rochdale	League 2
04-02-06	Oxford United	1-1	Rochdale	League 2
28-01-06	Rochdale	1-1	Boston United	League 2