DARLINGTON hope to beat Grantham Town and the weather today as they bid to return to league action with a win.

Not since October 24th have Quakers had a league match to contest, their fixtures since either being in cup competitions or postponed.

Darlington’s home game with Buxton a fortnight ago was called off due to a waterlogged pitch, and there are fears of another call-off today with freezing temperatures forecast for last night. There will be a pitch inspection at 8.30am.

Having not played a league game for so long, Darlington could do with getting the game on and winning three points having lost ground at the top of the table.

They have slipped to third with Blyth Spartans second, Nantwich Town have gone top with three successive wins without conceding.

They also need to put behind them last Saturday’s deeply disappointing display, the 1-0 defeat being their worst of the season, admitted manager Martin Gray.

It was an FA Trophy tie at Sutton Coldfield Town, therefore not as important as today’s league fixture, but the manager believes there will be a much-improved performance today.

“We’ve been consistent over the season until now, but that doesn’t make you feel any better because you still don’t want to have one-offs,” Gray told the club’s website.

“But everybody has a bad day and that was ours, we’ve got to put it to bed really quickly. You will see a reaction on Saturday.”

There were no question of a postponement seven days ago despite heavy rain in the West Midlands as Sutton play on a 3G pitch, but Gray refused to use surface as an excuse, pointing out that Darlington train on an artificial surface at Longfield Academy.

He tried a 4-3-1-2 formation at the start of the game, new signing Wilson Kneeshaw playing behind front pair Nathan Cartman and Graeme Armstrong, before reverting to 4-4-2.

Kneeshaw will make his home debut today, and Gray believes the former Middlesbrough youngster has the potential to play higher.

“He’s got something different,” he said. “Get him on the grass in the right conditions and get him on the ball in the right areas and he’ll definitely have something to offer.

“He’s missed a lot of football. He had pre-season with us, then went to Gateshead, Barnsley and Chesterfield [on trial]. He’s ended up back with us.

“He needs match time, he needs minutes on the pitch and the more he gets, the better he will become.

“When he gets an opportunity he’s got to take it.

“He can certainly play higher, that’s for sure, but he’s got to do it at this level first and that’s what we say to every player – come here and prove how good you can be and see how far you can take yourself.”

Kevin Burgess returns to the defence today. Having recently recovered from a calf strain, Gray did not risk him at Sutton, but he will replace Alan White who begins a four-match ban.

*Darlington will play at Barwell next Saturday to fill what would have been a blank weekend.

Quakers were without a game on November 28 due to being knocked out of the FA Trophy, however the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League have confirmed they have rearranged Quakers’ league match in Leicestershire.

Three days later Darlington will be on the road again as they play away to Frickley in the Doodson League Cup.

Darlington beat Barwell 3-1 in August at Heritage Park, Graeme Armstrong, Nathan Cartman and Tom Portas scoring.