Darlington attracted one of the highest attendance figures in the division yesterday - but saved arguably their worst performance of the season for the same day.

More than 7,000 were at the Williamson Motors Stadium, and aside from the stadium's first ever game in August 2003, it was Quakers' largest crowd since beating Hartlepool in the 2000 play-offs.

The play-offs is Darlington aim this season but after the 3-0 defeat, defender Brian Close said: "It thought it was the worst I've played all year, and the team as well.

"I'm not going to make excuses, it wasn't good enough.

"Everybody in the changing room was gutted and there was a bit of finger pointing, including at me. I'll hold my hands up, but the whole team didn't play well.

"We were looking forward to it, they were a bit further down the table and we knew we'd have a big crowd so everyone is gutted to be beaten like that.

"I can't put my finger on why we didn't play well, we have just got to work on things to get it right for Shrewsbury."

Manager David Hodgson reflected that he should have started with a 4-4-2 formation instead of the 3-5-2 which again featured the back-line of Curtis Fleming, Close, and Matthew Clarke.

For most of the season Quakers have had one of the best defensive records in the division but yesterday, for the second week running, the trio conceded three goals and Close said: "It's alright playing three at the back when the other team only has three upfront.

"But Rochdale matched us man-for-man by playing with three strikers and they worked very hard, dropping into midfield when they needed to.

"Rochdale's strikers held the ball up well in the first half and they had a few half chances, but it was from an individual mistake that they scored the first goal and I'll take responsibility for the second goal."

Quakers are at Shrewsbury tomorrow before travelling to leaders Scunthorpe on Saturday and they host Macclesfield a week today.

The four games could prove decisive.

Close admitted: "Playing four games in a short period can be a good thing if you have some good results and get some momentum, but it can be a bad thing too, especially if you lose the first of those four because then heads can drop.

"We have lost the first one and the last thing we want is to go on a losing run."

* League Two leaders Scunthorpe had their lead cut to five points after being held by Chester. Steve Torpey had given the Iron a third-minute lead, tapping in from Paul Hayes' cross. But Ian Rush's side were level after Kevin Ellison finished from Stuart Drummond's centre.

Second-placed Yeovil came from behind to emphatically beat Cheltenham 4-1.

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