DAVID HODGSON only has to ask Tony Adams the importance of building from the back to achieve success.

As far from inspiring as Saturday's performance against Adams' Wycombe Wanderers was, Hodgson's men reaffirmed their reputation as the division's shut-out experts with their fifth clean sheet of the season.

Even with defenders Joey Hutchinson, Craig Liddle and Curtis Fleming all sidelined through injury, Quakers are proving a tough nut to crack. They now share the best defensive record with third-placed Swansea - 11 goals conceded.

Adams' trophy-laden career with Arsenal was built on a solid defensive base. Part of the Arsenal 'old guard', Adams, Steve Bould, Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn formed the best back four the English domestic game has arguably ever seen. In 1991 Gunners conceded just 18 goals to reclaim the Division One title from Liverpool.

And while Hodgson remains apprehensive about Quakers' prospects this season, he can rest assured that the defensive foundations are in place to take the club forward.

Frustratingly, the Quakers boss knows what his side are capable of. Yet question marks still hang over whether or not they can perform on a regular basis.

On Saturday's evidence the answer would be 'no' and Hodgson knows that inconsistency is a serious issue and one which needs addressing sooner rather than later.

Having controlled the first half on Saturday, Quakers were less than convincing after the interval. Only the heroics of Sam Russell and some solid defending helped the home side preserve their slender lead.

Assistant manager Mark Proctor said: "Our performance in the first half was quite fluent and I thought we created one or two good opportunities.

"In the second half we had to change our shape (to a flat back four) because they put three up front. We didn't seem to get out of the blocks after that.

"We seemed a little bit nervous and I wasn't sure we knew how to approach the game when we were one-nil up.

"In terms of passing and moving the ball we were awful by our standards in the second half.

"Defensively we were sound and we managed to keep another clean sheet. We had to be on our toes because they were quite quick on the break.

"It's a good sign that we picked up three vital points on a day when we didn't do particularly well."

A controversial Clyde Wijnhard penalty - Quakers' first ever spot-kick at the Williamson Motors Stadium - was all that separated the sides on Saturday. Referee Paul Robinson incensed the Wycombe bench when he penalised Wanderers defender Mike Williamson for a push on Wijnhard in the 35th minute.

And while Proctor lays claim not to have witnessed the incident, he felt Wycombe were unlucky not to earn a penalty of their own when Nathan Tyson was brought down by Joe Kendrick in the box.

"I might not have seen ours but I thought theirs was a blatant penalty," admitted Proctor.

"Their bench was up in arms and rightly so because I would have been the same.

"Sometimes you get the rub of the green and sometimes you don't. That's football and I'm sure it evens itself out somewhere along the line."

Quakers almost made the perfect start when Craig Hignett curled a free-kick wide of keeper Frank Talia's goal with seven minutes played.

And after American winger Adolfo Gregorio was upended on the edge of the Wanderers box, Hignett's second set-piece of the afternoon was easily collected by Talia.

At the other end the ever dependable Russell showed good handling to gather Joe Burnell's volley through a crowd of players.

While Quakers restricted Wycombe to long-range efforts, Hignett was again denied by Talia on the half hour mark. With three-on-three, Gregorio released Alun Armstrong on the left, before switching play to the right for Hignett, who fired straight at the Australian stopper.

And while the visitors continued to shoot on sight - with skipper Keith Ryan and Adam Birchall trying from distance - Wijnhard earned his side a penalty with ten minutes of the half remaining.

The last time Quakers earned a penalty was in March 2003 at Feethams, when skipper Craig Liddle scored from the spot in a 3-1 win over Bury.

And after dusting himself down from Williamson's trip in the box, Wijnhard made no mistake from the spot, confidently shooting past Talia for his fourth goal of the season.

With half-time approaching former Spurs defender Stuart Nethercott came to Wycombe's rescue when he cleared off the line from Armstrong.

Just minutes after the interval Russell was called upon to save with his chest from Nathan Tyson, while the former Middlesbrough keeper showed a safe pair of hands to hold on to Ian Stonebridge's low effort.

As Wycombe switched to three in attack, Quakers reverted to a flat back four to counter Wanderers' reshuffle.

However, the Quakers defence and Russell were left standing when substitute Natt Bloomfield and Zema Abbey combined, before the latter struck the the post.

The upright then came to Wycombe's rescue with two minutes remaining. Wijnhard's attempted shot was blocked by Williamson and Armstrong looped his header off the post with Talia beaten.

Result: Darlington 1 Wycombe Wanderers 0.

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