After two months out injured, defender David McGurk crowned his return to first-team action with a goal and the sponsors' man of the match prize, but there was still little to celebrate on Saturday.

He put Quakers ahead against Notts County with a first-half header and was one of the few Darlington players to emerge with any credit. A fifth home defeat, however, took away the sparkle from his man of the match champagne.

Saturday's game was only McGurk's second start for Darlington this term, and he again found himself on the losing side.

Darlington won at Bury a week ago using a back-four and on Saturday central defender McGurk came into the team as manager David Hodgson switched to 3-5-2.

McGurk said: "It was my first start at home this season but I started at Swansea away too - that was a defeat as well!

"I don't know why we can't find the consistency. The lads have been talking about it but we can't put a finger on it.

"The manager was asking if we had any fear, but when you have that many players in the team that have played at the top level, I don't see how there can be any fear.

"Nobody underestimated Notts County. Every team in this division is of about the same standard so nobody ever thinks 'these are down near the bottom so we'll roll them over'.

"The manager gave us a rollicking but we did not perform so we have to accept it."

With Quakers employing their fair share of defenders and, after suffering two injuries, McGurk has hardly featured this season.

A successful loan spell at York City was preceeded by a back injury that hampered his start to the season. His recent knee operation kept him out of the reckoning until Saturday but now he's ready to earn a regular place.

With Jamaican international Damion Stewart signing until the end of the season, McGurk knows it's going to be even more difficult to get a game.

He said: "There's going to be more competition for places so we'll have to wait and see if I can keep my place in the team.

"Hopefully I'll be playing next week, it might depend on what formation the manager plays at Wycombe.

"I feel good now, although I'm fit now I'm not 100 per cent match fit but that comes with time. The last 20 minutes I was blowing out of my backside.

"We went to a flat back four for the last ten minutes or so and I'm not comfortable at right-back to be honest, but I thought I did OK.

"I was happy with my first half performance but in the second half I tired a bit and I let one of their lads get through."

* Darlington's youth team drew 1-1 at home to Port Vale on Saturday in their first game in the Merit Division which consists of the top three teams from each regional section. Their next home game is on February 26 against Mansfield (11am) at the Racecourse Ground, Durham.

Read more about the Quakers here.