DARLINGTON play their final home game of the season this evening against Southport with the aim being the same as it was back in August – to finish as high up the table as possible.

Eight months ago finishing in the top seven was the target, though much has changed since then with the campaign turning into a season of consolidation and foundations being put in place for next season.

Manager Tommy Wright has signed a number of players in recent months, the vast majority of them contributing to a run of improved form since January, and he has convinced others to sign new contracts, all of which has encouraged a sense of positivity in the outlook.

The boss recently put other new deals on ice to guard against potential complacency in the squad, though a couple of players could pen new deals in the coming weeks.

Wright would like to end the season with Darlington higher than the 12th position they not only occupied before last night’s games, but were also in when he replaced Martin Gray in October, and a top-ten finish remains possible.

Ultimately, Wright wishes to maintain the momentum, and beating Southport this evening and Stockport County on Saturday would do just that.

“We spoke about it in the changing room after the game on Saturday,” said Wright, whose team drew 0-0 with Nuneaton at the weekend.

“In our last home game we want to send the fans home with a smile on their face, and then to finish the season off we’ve got arguably the biggest club in the division– a big old Football League stadium, and those are the kinds of places you want to play at.”

In January Darlington were 20th, and Wright added: “At one point we were aiming to finish top of the bottom half of the table, if we can break into that top ten bracket it will have been a relatively very good second half of the season and overall everyone will be quite content after all the change that’s happened.

“There’s been a lot of change, but if you look at the form table we are a top seven team – we need to take that form into next season.”

Southport, managed by former Bolton striker Kevin Davies, have lost seven games in a row and are fourth-bottom but the relegation places have been filled by Gainsborough Trinity, Tamworth and North Ferriby United.