Story by Kevin Luff - 16th March 2007

Darlington host Hereford United this weekend as they look to return to winning ways. Quakers are unbeaten in twelve games but have drawn their last two matches and need to return to start recording wins again. Darlington have closed the gap on seventh placed Wycombe Wanderers to three points but with the finishing post now in sight Quakers need to start turning draws into wins.

Peterborough's game at Shrewsbury Town tonight could add further pressure to Dave Penney's men ahead of kick-off tomorrow afternoon. The Posh could leapfrog Darlington in the table if they record a win at Gay Meadow but a win at home to Hereford would see Quakers reclaim their eighth position.

Whilst Darlington not only need to grab three points to put pressure on Wycombe they need to hit the goal trail to boot. Quakers have failed to score in their last two matches and whilst the defence is far tighter with the modifications at the back hacking down the Chairboy's goal difference must be high on the 'to do list'. Despite this the Darlington manager feels Quakers have still created enough in recent games to get on the scoresheet.

"We made enough chances in the Walsall game to win it. Rochdale we also made some chances, Gregg Blundell missed one and Micky Cummins had a header," said Penney yesterday. "We always feel we are going to make chances in games. Sometimes though goals have to come from other areas. The onus is always on strikers but you look at other areas and we've been working on set pieces this week to try and get one."

Quakers will be without Michael Cummins for the game this weekend. The midfielder picked up a hamstring problem during the game at Rochdale and now faces around two weeks on the sidelines. Darlington have options to cover the loss of Cummins, who Penney feels will be somewhat disappointed with his return this campaign, in the shape of Clark Keltie, David Rowson and Ricky Ravenhill. The loss of Cummins has seen Penney focus on set pieces during training to compensate for the lack of attacking in midfield as he seeks goals from other area.

"He is the most attack minded we have got out of the midfield. I think he will be disappointed with his return of goals this season. He got eleven in the league above the season before. So he'll be disappointed but he is certainly the most attack minded we have in midfield. But he comes out and it frees someone else to push on from midfield. We need to score from set pieces though because that takes the pressure of the forwards or the attacking midfielders," said Penney.

Whilst Cummins is certain to miss the match Darlington also have doubts over Brian Close following the behind closed doors game with Sunderland reserves in midweek. The former Middlesbrough player received a whack to the head and needed stitches and was suffering from concussion. Meanwhile Lee Jones is set to resume training next week and is unlikely to be involved against Hereford. The visitors only have a couple of concerns for the match. Stephen Jennings and Martyn Giles are set to miss out. The game tomorrow kicks off at 3pm.