Darlington were well-beaten on Saturday but David Hodgson rebuffed any claims that a change in formation and team selection played any part in Quakers' downfall.

After Darlington slipped to 13th in the table following their sixth league defeat of the season the boss instead pointed to what he perceived to be a lack of battling spirit, something they are going to need with two tricky away games coming up.

Throughout his time at Darlington Hodgson has favoured 3-5-2 but on Saturday he used 4-4-2 which offered Joe Kendrick a route back into the team via his favoured position of left-back.

The reshuffle, including the deployment of Craig Russell in left midfield, failed to spark Quakers into action but Hodgson defended the changes, saying: "I've tried 3-5-2, 3-4-3 and today I decided to play 4-4-2 to try and find a successful formula, to get these players to play well and win games.

"Something sooner or later has got to click into place.

"But if players aren't giving 100 per cent then your formation means nothing.

"You could put nine behind the ball but if your team hasn't got the desire you get nothing and sooner or later you'll concede a goal and when that happens to us we haven't got it in us to lift ourselves.

"From now on they've got to make sure that when they come off the field no fan can have the right to have a go at them - if they'd had that attitude today we'd have won."

Front pair Alun Armstrong and Clyde Wijnhard, who failed to score for the fifth game in his last six, rarely featured as they were starved of any service from midfield.

An exasperated Hodgson fumed: "At the start of the season, when we were still looking for a striker, we were creating ten to 15 chances a game - where have they gone? We've still got the same players but now we can't create two in a game.

"Alun and Clyde didn't have any real chances apart from one late on when Alun got a shot in and their fans applauded because it had taken so long - that was embarrassing.

"There were players out there who had family in the crowd listening to the abuse they were getting - if that isn't enough to drive you on and make you be the best you can be then nothing ever will."

* One bright spot for the club on Saturday was that their youth team chalked up their third win of the season over rivals Hartlepool United.

After league and cup wins at Pool already Martin Gray led his team to a 2-1 victory, Jason St Juste and Gavin Parkin with the goals at the Racecourse Ground, Chester-le-Street.

* On Thursday, December 9 Darlington Supporters Club hold a fans forum in the Corner Bar at the Williamson Motors Stadium (8pm).

David Hodgson and Mark Proctor will be speaking and everyone, including non-members, are welcome.

Read more about the Quakers here.