DARLINGTON midfielder Phil Turnbull says that Wednesday’s home game against Stockport County cannot come quickly enough.

Quakers lost 1-0 to Kidderminster on Friday, a defeat which after Saturday’s games saw them drop to sixth in the table, four points behind leaders Salford City.

“I don’t think it was a bad performance on Friday,” he said.

“I think the game showed the step up in the level since we won promotion.

“Last season we’d have put the Kidderminster game to bed, but they defended well in the second half and kept us out. In the first half, they scored from the only shot they had.

“The ball just wouldn’t drop for us in front of goal in the second half, which was very frustrating. We forced ten corners in the second half, and last season maybe we would have scored from a couple of them. It shows the standard that we’ve stepped up to.”

Quakers have lost only twice in their first eight league games, and Turnbull said; “If you look at the start of the season, it’s not been a bad one. We just have to build on our start and keep believing.

“We’re not used to getting beat. One thing that does happen at this club, is that every time we lose, there’s always a reaction in the next game. Wednesday’s game against Stockport can’t come around quick enough.”

Meanwhile, manager Martin Gray said that Quakers must be more clinical in front of goal. “The chances we created were enough to win the game,” he said. “We hit the bar, and their keeper had a fantastic second half. Kidderminster have gone away thinking that they’ve had a tough game and will be pleased with the points, but that’s no consolation to us. We’ve lost three points.

“We have to be more clinical in front of goal, and we have to learn really quickly on how to finish teams off. No matter what level of football you play at, you’ve got to take your chances.

“The beauty is that we’re creating chances, and the performance overall was strong.”

Meanwhile, Darlington will today discover their opposition in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup. The tie will be played on Saturday, September 17.