Darlington manager Mick Tait last night claimed the reaction from his players after Tuesday night's draw with Southend shows how expectation levels within the team have been dramatically transformed this season.

Quakers opened their Third Division campaign in the worst possible way with just three points in August, but September has been a different story as they ended the month unbeaten, with three wins and three draws.

Despite extending their unbeaten run in the league to six games against the struggling Shrimpers, the Quakers boss said the mood in the dressing room was a far from happy one following the goalless draw.

"I told the lads to keep their heads up because they came off as if they'd lost," said Tait.

"Admittedly it was two points lost and we were disappointed with that, but I don't think anybody would have thought we would have gone six games unbeaten a month ago.

"We've worked hard to try to improve things and we've done very well, as results have shown over the last few weeks."

On Saturday, Quakers' recent revival will be severely put to the test against in-form Mansfield, who have scored ten goals in their last four games.

Keith Curle's men moved up to fourth in the Third Division on Tuesday night with an impressive 3-1 win at Bristol Rovers.

"Mansfield have been banging them in so it will be a test," warned Tait

"It's just another game and it will be just as hard as any other game.

"There are no easy games, as we saw against Southend."

Winger Neil Wainwright is continuing to make good progress from an ankle injury and could be in the squad at the weekend.

Goalkeeper Andy Collett could also earn a recall after missing the last two games with a recurrence of a troublesome shoulder injury, picked up in the Carling Cup defeat at Wolves last week.

However, second choice goalkeeper Michael Price has done his chances of earning an extended run in the team no harm after keeping clean sheets in his two league outings this season.

"Michael hasn't had that much to do in the games he's played but when he has had to make saves he's done very well," said Tait.