Quakers take on Bradford City this weekend in their first league meeting for over ten years. Darlington has played the Bantams more than once in their own stomping grounds in recent years thanks to League Cup ties. This however will be the first league meeting at Valley Parade between the two teams since March 1992 when Quakers won 1-0 courtesy of a Steve O'Shaughnessy goal.

In between times the club has enjoyed a well documented spell in the top flight and an equally well documented fall from grace. Relegated last season from Coca-Cola League One the Bantams were expected to be one of the front runners for promotion but so far City have struggled. With five league defeats in a row the hosts will start the day fourth bottom. Despite their disappointing start manager Dave Penney is under no illusions about the game.

"I know they have lost the last five but it will still be a tough test," said Penney. "There is going to be 13,000 supporters pushing them on and having watched them twice, once at Lincoln and once at Morecambe, I know they are a good footballing side. They have been unfortunate with the results but they certainly could have got a result in their last match. It was a close game and they have some good players. It is not going to be an easy game that is for sure."

With only eleven goals to their name it is not difficult to see why Bradford have struggled in recent weeks. Bantams boss Stuart McCall is begging his side to start taking their chances and believes the current woes are simply down to putting the ball in the back of the net. Having seen them play on two separate occasions Penney agrees with the assessment.

"They have Omar Daley who is lightening quick and both Barry Conlon and Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu have been here and scored goals," said the Darlington manager. "From watching the games that would be a fair assessment. We are doing well though, we are keeping it tight at the back and we are scoring goals and being a threat. It should be a good game but we have to go there and quieten the crowd. If they are doing well then 13,000 people roar them on but if they are not doing so well they can get on people's backs. That is what we have to try and do."

The visitors are expected to be without the services of left-back Tim Ryan thanks to a hamstring injury. Neil Austin should return to action and it could mean that Rob Puride is switched to left-back to cover for the absence of the former Boston United man. Darlington will continue to be without Pawel Abbott and Kevin McBride for the game. In form striker Tommy Wright will figure though he will miss the following outing against Chesterfield due to suspension. City meanwhile will again be missing Peter Thorne and Paul Evans whilst former Darlington defender Matt Clarke could miss out.