Story by Kevin Luff - 19th January 2007

Darlington face defensive issues for their trip to Grimsby Town on Saturday. Evan Horwood's red card at Bury was unsuccessfully appealed against and as a result manager Dave Penney must reshuffle at the back. However with the recent signings Penney has completed he should have more than enough bodies to cope with the changes he will have to install. One player who will not figure will be new signing Ricky Ravenhill. Joining from the Mariners he has been ruled out of the clash under the terms of the transfer.

Quakers managed to stem the string of bad results with a win over Peterborough United and then a point against Bury. Penney will be looking for this run to develop with the game at Grimsby Town. The Mariners themselves are struggling in League Two and with Darlington set to take on four teams in their next five outings who are in the bottom pack the Quakers' boss knows that this is an important time for the club.

"We have a big month if you look at the teams around us who we are going to play," said Penney when he spoke to the media. "Boston, Accrington, Wrexham and Grimsby are all around there and it is important that we don't get beat by them and come out with something, hopefully three points. We need the fifty points which you need to be safe as quickly as possible. We'll see where we go after that."

Results and goals have been a real issue of late for the home side. Alan Buckley's side have lost their last five league games and failed to score a goal in any of them. Last season's play-off finalists have struggled this time around and find themselves three points outside the relegation zone. Grimsby suffered defeat against league leaders Walsall on Monday night and whilst Alan Buckley was encouraged by the performance he admits a result is now needed.

"It would be nice to stop this rot of losses. Three points at home would be a nice way to end it. The good sign at Walsall despite the defeat was the performance was much-improved. That is the minimum I ask, of course, but if we keep that up, I'll be happier," said Buckley in the Grimsby Telegraph.

Grimsby go into the weekend fixture hoping to have Nick Fenton back after his suspension. The defender has been suffering from a virus this week and missed training yesterday. However Buckley is hopeful he will be ready and will choose between Fenton, Justin Whittle and Simon Grand for his two at the heart of the defence. Town have also been boosted with the return to training of strikers Michael Reddy and Isaiah Rankin, though both are still some way short of match fitness.

Darlington's match at Grimsby Town takes place on Saturday at 3pm.