Story by Kevin Luff - 1st September 2006

Darlington play their first Friday night game of the season tonight as they entertain Torquay United and look to get back on track after some disappointing results in the league. Despite the recent results Quakers' manager David Hodgson is clearly eager for the next game to come and is looking forward to the prospect of a Friday evening game at the 96.6 TFM Darlington Arena.

Darlington have tasted defeat against Boston United, Swindon Town and Walsall over the last few weeks but the Quakers' boss has no real issues with the performances and is hopeful that supporters don't base their early season judgements on the scorelines alone.

"I hope the people who sometimes read newspapers don't fully believe what it says because I think we've done very well away at Walsall on Saturday," said Hodgson in midweek. "We put in a performance far better than most last year and obviously got nothing. I think if we can carry on with those performances here then we will get back to winning ways. This team is capable of putting together a fantastic run, it really is. We need to get the backline tightened up a little bit. You've got to show some faith because you've got one of the best teams this club has had for years."

The visit of the Gulls is the first of four Friday night fixtures Darlington have scheduled for the campaign. Much has been made of the moving of football to a Friday night but Hodgson likes the idea and thinks the players do as well thanks to the improved atmosphere football under floodlights invariably brings.

"I think for a club at our level and surrounded by big clubs like Middlesbrough, Leeds, Sunderland and Newcastle United I think it is a must," said Hodgson. "In a trial last year it proved successful because the crowd improved by four or five hundred as opposed to the Saturday fixture so it's a must. It's a different atmosphere and the lads love it, I know that for a fact so I think it's a great idea."

Torquay United managed to survive relegation last season despite being all but conference bound near the end of the campaign. Manager Ian Atkins though turned it around and got the results he needed to keep the Gulls from slipping out of the Football League. So far life has been happier for the Southern based club this season finding themselves just above the midway mark in the table courtesy of two wins and two draws. Hodgson however knows exactly what to expect from Ian Atkins side when they line up tonight.

"I know exactly what he'll do," said Hodgson. "He'll come here and try to stop Darlington Football Club playing. That is an absolute fact. Whatever system you play Ian normally put the exact same system up to try and stop you playing. The amazing thing was Walsall did it on Saturday yet we could have still scored goals. I don't worry about any team stopping us because I think we have the personnel in Micky Cummins, Ngoma and Rowson, people who are in the middle of the park, to be able to move it and you can't deal with that so I am not worried."

As with the game against Walsall last weekend Quakers have a few concerns going into the match however they are boosted by the return of David Rowson who figured in the reserve match against Hull City in midweek. The midfielder was unavailable for selection against the Saddlers thanks to a dead-leg he picked up at Stoke City but is back in contention should Hodgson decide to call upon him.

Martin Smith meanwhile remains a week away from making his return and Clark Keltie continues to be out because of a floating bone problem. Craig James sits out the second match of a three game ban for his red card in the Carling Cup fixture against the Potters. Hodgson will not be able to call upon new signing Ville Vaisanen, the Fin's transfer was obviously completed in time for the close of the transfer window yesterday but his registration was not finished in time for him to be able to figure in tonight's team selection.