AFTER three games without a victory, Darlington need to get back to winning ways as soon as possible if they're to avoid repeating last season's statistics.

A year ago a dip in form followed a promising start which saw Gary Bennett's side remain unbeaten during the first five League games.

After the opening day defeat at Southend, Darlington again recorded five unbeaten matches until succumbing to Torquay at the weekend.

But Quakers couldn't ask for a tougher fixture tonight as they entertain the Division's form team, Leyton Orient, who have racked-up four consecutive victories, including wins over much-fancied Hartlepool, Bristol Rovers and Rushden.

And with injuries affecting team selection, Bennett knows his players will face at tough game at Feethams.

"It's going to be a hard game against Orient because they're a good side, so it'll be a test for us," admitted Bennett who looks likely to be without injured duo David Brightwell and Neil Wainwright.

"David is a doubt for us still.

"It happened at the beginning of training last week and it got worse towards the end of the week.

"He travelled with the squad to Torquay but he couldn't play because it got worse."

But Mark Convery gave Bennett some good news yesterday when he trained without any discomfort having suffered from blisters, sustained in a reserve game last week.

Saturday's defeat in Devon was harsh on Quakers who'd done enough to take all three points, but missed chances cost Darlington dear. But Bennett decided against ordering extra shooting practice for his players, despite Saturday's shortfalls in front of goal.

"We can shoot as much as we want in training and we can score as much as want, but doing that in a match is a different thing altogether," said Bennett who received words of comfort from Torquay boss Roy McFarland.

"On Saturday we had a lot of chances and we only scored one, on another they'd all have gone in," said Bennett.

"He apologised to me, my staff and the players for what happened and I think says it all about our performance."

Quakers (from): Collett, van der Geest, Betts, Liddle, Jeannin, Heckingbottom, Ford, Maddison, Atkinson, Convery, Mellanby, Hodgson, Conlon, Brumwell, Harper, Marcelle, Jackson, Marsh.

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