NEW Darlington boss Tommy Taylor has ordered his team to tighten up and cut out the mistakes.

Taylor has been shocked after watching his side leak four goals in the last two games - all of which originated from individual errors.

Hull City's winner last Saturday was a penalty, but before being awarded the spot-kick the Tigers won possession when full-back Simon Betts gave the ball away in midfield, and on Tuesday all three Scunthorpe United goals could have been avoided.

An under-hit Betts pass set the Irons on the attack for the first goal, poor marking in central defence gifted ex-Quaker Martin Carruthers the second, while keeper Frank van der Geest failed to sufficiently clear a corner which allowed Scunthorpe the killer third goal.

"On Tuesday we lost to three stupid mistakes, and as soon as the first goal went in the lads fell to pieces,'' said Taylor.

"We've got to cut that out straightaway. For the first goal Betts gave the ball away on the halfway line when trying to pass the ball to Brightwell, the second came when our defender stood on the wrong side of the forward so he let him through to score, and third was off the keeper punching the ball in the air.

"I want my teams to be as solid as possible, and not pass the ball in stupid areas.

"I've told Betts what I think. He's got two great feet, why doesn't he use them? What's the point in passing back to the centre-half when all he's going to do is hump the ball up the field?

"He did the same thing on Saturday when all he's got to do is pass the ball forward.

"If you've got height in your attack, use it, if you've got pace out wide, use it."

Midfielder Mark Ford is to visit a specialist on Monday for a diagnosis on the knee problem which has kept him out of action throughout October, which was a turbulent month for Quakers.

Darlington lost all four League games, Gary Bennett resigned as manager while influential Craig Liddle and Danny Mellanby both received long-term injuries.

It was, perhaps, no coincidence that Ford's absence has coincided with Quakers' dismal run of one win in the last six matches, and that came in the LDV Vans Trophy against Macclesfield Town