DARLINGTON'S caretaker boss Mick Tait has called on his players to "get cracking again" after collecting just three points from their last three games.

After three consecutive draws Quakers' resurgence under Tait appears to have come to a halt in recent games.

"If we're going to do anything this season then obviously we need to start picking up more points," said Tait. "We haven't done too bad recently but let's get cracking again."

After pulling Quakers out of a potential relegation scrap, Tait revealed his next objective is to get into the top 12.

"We've been desperate to get back into the top half," said Tait.

"That's our aim at the moment and we've had chances in the last few games to jump into the top half."

If Quakers are to go anywhere near achieving Tait's next target then they must shake off the tag of being the division's draw specialists - they have recorded four draws in their last five home league games.

"It's so disappointing not to perform at home again," said Tait. "We gave a goal away and ended up drawing another home game."

However, Tait remains typically upbeat, saying: "It's another game unbeaten and I said to the players afterwards we need to look at the positives."

While Torquay had the luxury of having their Boxing Day clash with Exeter called off, Quakers were forced to play their second game in the space of three days for the visit of The Gulls.

And Tait admitted the hectic schedule was beginning to take its toll against Torquay, especially in the second half.

"You could see we were tiring in the second half when we were giving the ball away too easily," said Tait. "The movement disappeared as the game wore on and there were problems keeping the ball late on."

Winger Neil Wainwright is expected to shake off a hip injury in time for tomorrow's visit of Rochdale. The former Sunderland man was forced to limp off against Torquay after a horror challenge from Gulls defender Sean Hankin.

Clark Keltie will be suspended for the trip to Oxford on January 11 after collecting his fifth booking of the season against Carlisle. Defender Stuart Whitehead also misses the clash after picking up his fifth caution in the same game.

On-loan goalkeeper Sam Russell has been given permission by his club Middlesbrough to play in Quakers' FA Cup third round clash at home to Farnborough Town on Saturday.

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