Story by Kevin Luff - 10th February 2006

Quakers entertain Bristol Rovers this coming Saturday in what is being billed as a 'crucial game' according to Darlington boss David Hodgson. Quakers find themselves in seventh place however the visitors are breathing right down their necks. A slip up for either side could see them plunge down a few notches in the table. This one is undoubtedly a six pointer and there will be more to come before the end of the season.

Since Hodgson returned to the Darlington hotseat Quakers fans have become accustomed to challenging for a play-off place and this is perhaps their strongest bid to date. A run of only one defeat in eleven games has seen Darlington climb up the table. February could well be a defining month of the entire campaign for Darlington's squad. Following the visit of Bristol Rovers there are away trips to Peterborough (6th place) and Leyton Orient (5th place).

"It's a crucial game but every game whether you are at the top of the table or the bottom of the table at this stage of the season technically becomes a six pointer," said Hodgson on Quakers World. "I am glad our football club is once again involved in the six pointers for all the right reasons as opposed to the wrong reasons."

Whilst Quakers still have the rest of February to come once the second month of 2006 passes the finishing post starts to become visible. Hodgson however feels with the games coming thick and fast the final league table positions could be sorted out quite quickly. Darlington are in good form and the manager is looking for this to continue in the coming weeks. With forty-five points already in the bag Hodgson is targeting another thirty which he is confident will secure a play-off place.

"I think its insight now (the finishing post) because there is that many games coming quickly. All of a sudden in the space of fortnight five games have gone and then all of a sudden you are there," he said. "What we have to do is win our home games. If we win the eight remaining home games and pick up a couple of wins away from home you are looking at ten wins. Ten wins is thirty points and on top of what you've got is seventy-five points. That will get you into the play-offs this year because it is too tight."

Darlington's form has been coupled by an impressive defensive record which will be under serious scrutiny tomorrow afternoon by Bristol Rovers' forwards Junior Agogo and Richard Walker. The pair have knocked in twenty-seven goals between them. Quakers' backline however is strong and has not been breeched since January the 14th (four games ago). The defence comprising of various keepers (due to injury), Ryan Valentine, Shelton Martis, Matt Clarke and Joe Kendrick has not conceded for over four-hundred minutes of League two football. The statistics do not concern Hodgson however.

"I'm not into stats," declared Hodgson. "All I know is that Sam Russell had pressure on him to keep a clean sheet on the back of the clean sheets kept by Kasper. Lets just hope that on Saturday against two very good strikers in Walker and Agogo we have another clean sheet. If we have another clean sheet against this type of team with goalscorers like that then we are doing an awful lot right."

Last ten meetings

2005/06
League 2	Bristol Rovers	0-1	Darlington	24-09-05
2004/05
League 2	Bristol Rovers	3-3	Darlington	28-03-05
League 2	Darlington	0-1	Bristol Rovers	21-08-04
2003/04
Division 3	Bristol Rovers	0-3	Darlington	14-02-04
Division 3	Darlington	0-4	Bristol Rovers	11-10-03
2002/03
Division 3	Bristol Rovers	2-1	Darlington	26-04-03
Division 3	Darlington	1-0	Bristol Rovers	05-10-02
2001/02
Division 3	Bristol Rovers	1-0	Darlington	29-12-01
Division 3	Darlington	1-0	Bristol Rovers	27-08-01

Bristol Rovers' last five games