After some lackadaisical performances of late a video nasty was to thank for jolting Darlington into form, with Saturday's victory putting Quakers back on track.

Despite beating Wycombe Wanderers a week ago, Darlington were bemoaning their third consecutive sloppy display.

With several defenders injured and some players out of form the signs were not promising.

The 1-0 win against Wycombe was scarcely deserved so manager David Hodgson forced his players to sit through a private screening of their Halloween horror show.

It clearly provided the kick-start required because at Rushden the team were much-improved.

Clyde Wijnhard put in a moderate display, but every other player looked sharp, especially during a first half when the hosts couldn't cope with Darlington's slick approach play, despite the absence of the injured Alun Armstrong.

The striker suffered a dead leg in training on Friday and Craig Hignett will be missing for two to three weeks after pulling a hamstring in scoring the second of his two goals on Saturday.

Hodgson has now challenged his players to meet the same standards each week, but was delighted with the team's response to his X-rated video.

He explained: "I don't normally like showing videos of matches to players because it can have an adverse effect in that it makes them even more conscious and nervous about mistakes they've made. But after Wycombe I thought 'to hell with it'.

"Apart from the most prominent mistakes, players tend to forget most of the errors they've made in a game.

"So as there were too many mistakes right across the team last week I decided to show them the video.

"At the end I asked them who thought, on the evidence of the video, who thought they played well and none of them could answer me. They knew the truth.

"After that video they went out on to the training ground and did everything asked of them correctly and they did it first time.

"As well as the video I also spoke to them individually so I hope this week has been wake-up call for them."

Quakers have now won four of their last six matches, which puts them ninth in the table with a game in hand, although they would be higher if it were not for some bad results earlier in the season.

Hodgson said: "I want a huge improvement in consistency, not just from the seven whose contracts are up at the end of the season, but from every player at the club.

"Even though we beat Wycombe last week, we did not play well and as much as I and the fans want points, I want consistently good performances too.

"I want to be in the top ten at Christmas knowing that from that position we can push on in the second half of the season."

"I want a better standard of football than last season because we've got technically better players now."

One of those is Hignett and he was saw plenty of the ball at Nene Park.

The hosts afforded him far too much room to operate in a bright first half for Quakers, opening the scoring after 21 minutes through the former Middlesbrough man.

Adolfo Gregorio cut the Diamonds defence to shreds, dribbling through the middle before being brought down by keeper Billy Turley.

It should have been a penalty - clearly the players thought so because many stood waiting for the referee to signal to the spot - but instead play continued and Hignett poked the loose ball home.

Ten minutes before the break Quakers retained the advantage thanks to the heroics of keeper Sam Russell, which is becoming a recurring theme.

The former Middlesbrough 22-year-old saved low to his right to defy James Mulligan - the first time Darlington's defence had been breached.

Russell, who had another excellent game, had earlier produced a stunning stop from the same player but it proved to be academic as an offside decision was given.

Russell again denied Mulligan just after the break as the hosts began the second half the better side with target man Drewe Broughton winning plenty in the air. But Quakers overcame this spell and looked comfortable for the remainder of the game.

They put the seal on their third away win of the season with a great piece of quick counter-attacking. Hignett's pass sent sub Neil Wainwright racing away up the right and his pin-point cross to the far post found Hignett on hand to side-foot home.

Rushden were allowed back into it with five minutes remaining when Mulligan crashed the ball home after a foul by Brian Close near Quakers' box.

"Brian gave away a free-kick with a stupid tackle. I'm surprised he did it because he's a very clever footballer," said Hodgson.

"Eventually we killed the game off and overall it was a very good performance but there is room for improvement."

The performance demonstrated that Quakers are capable of good football but what they must now do is ensure the victory wasn't a one-off. A good run of form and results is required to maintain a Christmas top ten spot.

Result: Rushden and Diamonds 1 Darlington 2.

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