QUAKERS go into the busy Christmas period on a real high after last Saturday's battling 1-0 win at Hull City.

The improvement under caretaker manager Mick Tait, who has lost only once in his nine games in charge, has lifted the gloom which enveloped Feethams earlier in the season.

Talk of a looming relegation battle has been replaced by a feeling that the club could still mount a challenge for the promotion play-offs.

Such a prospect was almost unthinkable when Tait took over the reins from Tommy Taylor and he could not have done more to push his credentials for a permanent appointment.

Darlington will look forward to tomorrow's home game with Macclesfield Town and the Boxing Day trip to Carlisle United full of confidence after an unbeaten run of five games.

Three points against the Silkmen could see Quakers climb into the top half of the table for the first time since August.

They played the role of party poopers to perfection at Boothferry Park, where a crowd of 14,162 turned up to watch the last ever game at the Tigers' old lair.

Tait, anxious to avoid his side becoming too predictable, brought in Stuart Whitehead to make up a back three with Craig Liddle and Matt Clarke, with Neil Wainwright dropping to the bench.

Simon Betts put Quakers in front just before half-time when he arrived at the far post to fire in Richard Hodgson's cross, but the harsh sending off of Liddle early in the second half forced Tait's men to batten down the hatches.

They coped magnificently to pick up the three points, which moved them up to 16th in the table, eight points shy of a play-off place.

Referee Mark Warren has agreed to look at video footage of the incident which led to Liddle's dismissal and Quakers are hopeful he will rescind the red card.

Keeper Andy Collett is on course to return from injury in time for the trip to Carlisle, but Tait is prepared to take a gamble by going into tomorrow's match with Chris Porter as his only recognised keeper.

The manager decided it was not worth trying to make another loan signing for one match after Michael Ingham was recalled by Sunderland. Neil Maddison will be on the bench as back up for Porter.