DRAW specialists Darlington are being backed by caretaker boss Mick Tait to return to winning ways.

Since Tait took over the reins from Tommy Taylor in October, the Quakers have lost only twice in the Third Division.

But despite that impressive run, Darlington's rise up the table has been blocked by a series of draws.

Tait, whose side entertain Kidderminster Harriers this afternoon, has been in charge for 14 games and exactly half of those have ended all square - and the Feethams boss is determined not to break one of his own records.

When he was in charge at Hartlepool during the 1997-98 season his team recorded 23 draws - a record which still stands.

But Tait is confident Darlington will soon be pulling three points out of the bag instead of just the one.

"It's not something we go out to do," insisted Tait, whose side have drawn their last four League games.

"We do not go out deliberately to draw games. We want to win games.

"We have had striker problems and we should have come away from a lot of those matches with all the points.

"All the draws do not worry me because we are playing some good stuff.

"If we were scraping draws then I would be worried but we are the better side in many games and we are coming away thinking we should have won."

Tait welcomes back centre-back Stuart Whitehead and midfielder Clark Keltie to the squad for today's clash.

Neil Wainwright is suspended and striker Barry Conlon completes a three-match ban as Darlington look to preserve their unbeaten League run on home soil - they have not lost since October 19.

Tait admits it will be nice to have Whitehead and Keltie back in the frame.

"They are two good players and they have both done well since I took over," he said.

"They have been a big part of my team and it will be nice to have them back.

"It was a bit of a relief to get the go-ahead to play Oxford the other night because we now have Wainwright out. Otherwise we'd have had all four players out.

"But we have players who can come in and do a job."

Tait also believes his current squad have the potential to keep making progress and he has been delighted with the way all the players have responded since he took control.

"The draws have put us back a bit," he said. "If we had won some of those we would be right up there pushing for a play-off place.

"But I have been delighted with the way the players have reacted, we have lost something like once in ten League games.

"That really is a good platform to build on. They are a great bunch of lads and they all want to do well.

"What bodes well is that many of them are young as well, so they can have a bright future."

Darlington striker Danny Mellanby has been ruled out for at least a week after suffering a back injury playing for the reserves this week.

The former Bishop Auckland forward fell awkwardly during the clash with Notts County and he suffered a bruise at the bottom of his spine.

But the injury was not as bad as first feared and he should be back in action next week.

Tait said: "It was a bit of a shame for Danny because he would have been involved on Saturday. It looked a nasty injury and we are just pleased he should be OK.

Read more about the Quakers here.