David Hodgson takes pride in telling it like it is.

The Darlington manager has always talked a good game and during his time in management, his teams have, for the best part, played a good game too.

The former Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Liverpool striker is well aware that there is no talking your way around a poor performance under the scrutiny of fans and the media.

And currently he doesn't have to, because he knows Quakers are playing good football.

Few who witnessed last week's 3-0 demolition of York City at the Reynolds Arena would disagree.

But Hodgson, ahead of today's Third Division trip to Cambridge, insists last week's victory over the Minstermen - Quakers' first win in 12 - was no surprise.

"Even in the weeks leading up to the York game the lads have been outstanding," said Hodgson.

"Their attitude and commitment was very good and I think they got their rewards against York.

"That's history now and we now have another four games to build on what we have done in the previous four."

To continue their dramatic improvement, Quakers must end a disastrous away record which has seen them fail to win in their last 13 League trips, a run which stretches back to March 22, when a solitary Clark Keltie strike was enough to earn all three points at Scunthorpe.

"I told the lads last week that if we can win three games on the trot I will be happy," said Hodgson.

"We got the win last week and they know we've got to go to grounds like Cambridge and get wins or at least a point.

"If we are going to get anywhere our away record must improve. That's the difference between the teams who are doing well and the ones which aren't."

Last week's win lifted Quakers out of the bottom two for the first time since October.

And Hodgson believes their ascent up the Third Division table will continue as long as his players are creating chances in front of goal.

"If we can put in that much work and create that amount of opportunities, at the same time taking them, then we should be coming away with more wins than defeats," said Hodgson.

"It's important now that they go out and perform as well, if not better, than we did against York and come away with the points as well.

"Managers can talk all week. The only thing that counts on a Saturday afternoon is what the players do from three until a quarter-to-five."

Hodgson will hand a debut to striker Lee Matthews, who joined the club on loan for a month from Bristol City on Wednesday.

The Middlesbrough-born forward was brought in as cover for top-scorer Barry Conlon, who starts a three-match ban following his dismissal at Scunthorpe a fortnight ago.

"The good thing is hopefully it will be a tit-for-tat change for us," said Hodgson.

"We know what Baz has done. He's got better and better as the games have gone by.

"This lad has come in and we hope he will do a very similar type of job as Baz.

"If he can do that it will keep our strike-force ticking."

While Matthews' arrival will see Hodgson make a straight swap in attack, the Quakers boss will have to decide on whether to change the shape of his side at the back in the absence of suspended defender Ryan Valentine.

Hodgson could keep faith with the three-man defence which worked so well last week, or revert to a 4-4-2 formation.

Gary Pearson and Chris Hughes will compete for Valentine's right-sided place.

Andy Collett travelled with the rest of the squad yesterday but will have to settle for a place on the bench.

The former Middlesbrough goalkeeper has not played since suffering a punctured lung in September and Hodgson has warned the 30-year-old faces a fight to retain his place from current first-choice Michael Price.

Cambridge player-manager, 39-year-old John Taylor, is expected to name himself in this afternoon's starting line-up as ten-goal top scorer Dave Kitson remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Striker Dan Chillingworth, who made three appearances on loan to Quakers two years ago, is unlikely to figure against his former club due to a knee injury, while Hartlepool-born defender Mark Venus is a major doubt with a hamstring strain.

Justin Walker and Terry Fleming are unavailable after they were suspended by the club for disciplinary reasons.

Cambridge's off-the-field problems don't end there.

The club has been handed a December 22 deadline to raise £59,000, or risk losing its Abbey Stadium home and subsequently, its League status.

The Us took out a £585,000 loan in the wake of ITV Digital's collapse last year.

Fans have arranged a number of fund-raising events to help.