DARLINGTON'S Craig Hignett believes the only way attendances will improve at the Williamson Motors Stadium is by continuing to do the business on the pitch.

As Quakers travel to Boston United this afternoon, looking for a fourth straight League win, Hignett has called on fans to play their part at home by turning out in numbers.

A disappointing 3,702 crowd watched Quakers move up to fifth in League Two following their 3-0 win over Leyton Orient seven days ago.

Despite their lofty play-off position Quakers - with an average of 4,008 - have just the 13th highest average attendance at home in the division this season. They are behind nine clubs that are below them in League Two. In comparison, third-placed Swansea have the highest average attendance at home - 7,820 - followed by Bristol Rovers - 7,730 - despite lying 14th in League Two.

When Quakers reached the old Third Division play-off final in 2000, under manager David Hodgson's previous spell in charge, the club averaged over 5,000 at Feethams.

After a far from spectacular start to this season, in which Quakers were 19th after four games, attendance's have steadily improved in tandem with the arrival of former Premiership stars Hignett, Alun Armstrong and Clyde Wijnhard, and the club's subsequent rise up League Two.

Indeed, Hignett is confident that gates will improve as long as Quakers sustain their position in the promotion pack.

"There's a really good feeling at the club at the moment but we want more people to come down and watch us," said Hignett.

"We're fifth top of the league with a really good chance of promotion and we're struggling to bring more than 4,000 in.

"The more people we get in here the better, but that is only going to come from us winning games, which is what we're doing at the moment.

"If we're still up there towards the end of the season then it would be nice to see more people there."

The club has already taken a number of measures to make itself more fan-friendly following the dark days of the previous regime. And after the success of 'drum day' against Leyton Orient last week, a bumper crowd is expected when children will gain free entry to Quakers' Boxing Day clash with Rochdale at the WMS.

This afternoon Hignett and his team-mates will turn their immediate thoughts to mid-table Boston. The 34-year-old was influential in last week's 3-0 success over the Os despite suffering from a migraine and will continue to play in midfield.

A win could take Quakers into the automatic promotion places and Hignett said: "Boston will be a tough game but there's nothing between anyone in this league.

"We know that we can beat anyone if we play anywhere near our best.

"The people we have in the team and the quality we've got should be too much for anyone we play this season.

"We have the experience in the squad, including myself, and we have some very good young players as well.

"It's encouraging for the club and hopefully now we can carry on from what we've done in the last three games."

After signing a contract extension which will keep him at the club until the end of the season, Armstrong will continue to partner Wijnhard in attack this afternoon.

The duo have already scored 15 goals between them this season, while Hignett has netted five times in nine starts.

"People will pay a fortune for players who can score goals and we have a few at the club," said Hignett.

"The gaffer has looked after Alun really well and it's up to him to repay the faith which has been put in him."

Hignett will line up at York Street today, with Hodgson expected to name an unchanged side.

Former Charlton midfielder Adrian Webster will keep his place after impressing alongside Hignett in the win over Orient.

After recovering from a career-threatening knee injury during the summer, New Zealand-born Webster has made an impressive impact since penning a short-term deal until January. The 24-year-old has forged a good understanding alongside Hignett in midfield - a fact not lost on his team-mate.

"Webby can only prepare himself for first-team football by playing in games," said Hignett.

"He's only played a handful of games but he certainly hasn't looked out of his league. If anything he looks like he can be a real asset and I think there's a lot more to come from Webby."

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