Two games is a long time in football. Just ask Darlington caretaker boss Mick Tait.

Not so long ago talk of a last-ditch play-off push was looking like a good outside bet for a carefree Quakers side, brimming with confidence and giving the Division's finest a good run for their money.

Tait put forward his case to succeed Tommy Taylor admirably, suffering just one defeat - against today's opponents Rushden - in his opening 12 games in charge.

Even with such a record Tait remained within his caretaker role and now faces his biggest test yet after just one win in 2003.

"Two games ago we were looking towards the top half of the table and now we've lost two it paints a completely different picture," said Tait

"We haven't tasted two defeats for a long time so it's going to be a test of character for everyone at the club.

"We were playing well enough and winning games but it seems to have gone the other way in our last few games.

"This is a situation we didn't expect to be in.

"We've got to be strong and bounce back."

Second-placed Rushden arrive at Feethams today looking to close the eight-point gap on leaders Hartlepool.

Barring a major slump in results, Brian Talbot's side, who are seven points clear of third-placed Bury, should gain promotion in only their second season in the Football League.

Diamonds were 2-0 winners when the sides met back in November when a freak Matt Clarke own goal and an Onandi Lowe strike sealed a somewhat fortunate win for Diamonds.

"When we went down there we were more than a match for them and we were unlucky not to come away with at least a point," said Tait

"It was one of those games were they could have been down to ten-men when the last man brought Wainy down on the edge of the box."

Tait bemoaned his side's lack of firepower after the midweek defeat at bottom club Swansea and will be looking for an improvement from his players this afternoon.

"It's no good playing decent football if you're not going to get an end product and that was the case against Swansea," said Tait.

"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that if you don't create chances then you're not going to score goals.

"You have to match teams for work rate first and if you have better players sometimes you come out on top.

"I thought the defence was outstanding the other night and there were a couple of good midfield performances, but when we got to the final third we were really poor.

"If we are going to win matches we need to improve on this."

Quakers will be without defender Stuart Whitehead, who serves a one-match ban after his sending off at Torquay. An appeal was rejected by an FA panel this week.

Glenn Naylor and Matt Clarke are ruled out while Danny Mellanby is short of match practice and Neil Maddison is doubtful

Read more about the Quakers here.