TOMMY Taylor came out fighting last night as he prepared for the biggest game of his Darlington reign and pleaded: "Judge me over a season, not seven games."

Drawing inspiration from Peter Reid's battle to save his job at Sunderland, Taylor vowed not to take a backward step as he looks to arrest Darlington's alarming slide towards the Third Division trapdoor.

A "Taylor out" banner was draped on a fence outside the club's new stadium at Neasham Road this week, piling further pressure upon the beleaguered Quakers boss.

Taylor was indirectly accused by a Darlington director of lacking passion after appearing to play down the importance of last month's derby at Hartlepool United.

But he denied that charge and also urged fans to overlook the current blip that sees the club head into today's visit of Bristol Rovers having gone seven games without a win.

He said: "There might be 100 people moaning about the situation but I'm trying my hardest.

"This is my most difficult time at Darlington because I've never lost so many games in such a short space of time.

"We've got 35 games to go. Are people going to judge me on the last seven games? My record is a good record. Don't judge me on a few games - judge me on the season.

"I've got passion for the game. I'm told it doesn't look like it at times but it burns inside me when we lose.

"All I've done is football and I love it more than anyone knows. I hate losing and I hate my teams to lose.

"I want to win every practice match, and when people say I don't care it's 100 per cent wrong.

"I want to win the league more than anything because I've come up short twice in a few years in the play-offs.

"I know what it's like to go close and I want to get out of this league with Darlington. Peter Reid has had pressure of late and he's come through it really well. I aim to do the same."

Taylor has given his players the ultimate vote of confidence but warned them his fate is in their hands.

Defeat against Rovers, five places and three points above Darlington in the Third Division, today in front of what is expected to be another small crowd at Feethams would put Taylor's job in severe jeopardy.

But despite his side's terrible recent run, he insisted: "I wouldn't change the players I've got for anybody. "But they've got to go out there and do a job.

"We need to win and to play well, and it's only the players who can get us out of this."

Read more about the Quakers here.