Story by Kevin Luff - 18th February 2006

Darlington entertain Shrewsbury Town this afternoon at the 96.6 TFM Darlington Arena. Following the recent disappointment of defeat against Peterborough United Quakers will be looking to get back on track and create a new run of positive results that see them not only get back into the play-offs, but consolidate their position there as well. Shrewsbury will prove a tough prospect as their 2-2 draw with high flyers Carlisle United proved in midweek.

"Darlington will be a challenge as they are about us but we seem to rise to the challenge of playing the topsides, what we need to do is rise to the challenge of playing the teams below us," said Shrews boss Gary Peters. "We've got Darlington away and then Bury at home and everyone will see the Darlington game as the tougher proposition, for me the bury game may be the tougher game. I like David Hodgson he's a good fella and works with what he's got, last season he worked with a lot of older players with great ability who've been at a higher level, this season he's working with younger players and is having to find out about them, a bit like we are."

Whilst Darlington's good recent form came to an end they are still more than capable on home soil and the management team will be looking for that to help kick start a new run of results. The defeat at London Road was only the club's second defeat in thirteen fixtures. A similar run of results in the remaining games could well see Darlington in the hat for the play-offs - a view shared by manager David Hodgson in today's Northern Echo.

"There are 13 games to go and we need to win eight of those," said Hodgson. "Win more than eight and we will probably find ourselves in the top three. We've only lost twice in our last 13 games and if we achieve a similar run between now and the end of the season we'll be where we want to be in May. If we set that kind of target then it's unlikely that there will be many other teams who do better."

Quakers will almost certainly have to make at least one change to the side that lost at Peterborough United. Neil Wainwright is unlikely to figure in the game and this could give Simon Johnson, who angered the management team in midweek, another chance. However Hodgson does have other options. Speaking again in the Northern Echo the Quakers' manager says he doesn't want to make changes unless he has too. Andy Cooke could well be pushing for a home debut after scoring Darlington's only goal at Peterborough on Tuesday night.

"We've made a lot of changes this season, but if I had my way there wouldn't be any at all," said Hodgson. "It's difficult when you have to deal with injuries, but on the whole I think we've coped quite well. We have a settled defence, which has been a massive help, and we haven't had many changes to make in the midfield area. Cookey and Kyle (Lafferty) will need a bit more time, but they linked up quite well at Peterborough."

Shrewsbury will be boosted with the availability of Ben Herd. His red card at Carlisle United was rescinded this week so the former Watford man will not face a suspension and will be available for the game against the Quakers. Jamie Tolley (nose) and Sagi Burton (ankle) look set to return to the starting eleven in place of Steven Hogg and Kevin Sharp.

Last ten meetings

2005/06
League 2	Shrewsbury	3-1	Darlington	06-12-05
2004/05
League 2	Darlington	3-0	Shrewsbury	22-01-05
League 2	Shrewsbury	4-0	Darlington	28-12-04
2002/03
Division 3	Darlington	5-1	Shrewsbury	12-04-03
Division 3	Shrewsbury	2-2	Darlington	23-11-02
2001/02
Division 3	Darlington	3-3	Shrewsbury	09-02-02
Division 3	Shrewsbury	3-0	Oxford Utd	06-11-01
2000/01
Division 3	Darlington	3-0	Shrewsbury	10-04-01
LDV	Darlington	2-0	Shrewsbury	16-01-01
Division 3	Shrewsbury	1-0	Darlington	09-09-00

Shrewsbury's last five games