David Hodgson thought his side had finally exorcised their home demons, until Oxford United provided them with a reality check at the weekend.

Hodgson has made no secret of his frustration at Darlington's constant failure to perform in front of home fans, but felt his side had been making progress this season.

Quakers had previously lost just once in four at the Darlington Football Stadium, before Saturday's 2-1 defeat at the hands of struggling Oxford.

In their historic first year on Neasham Road, Quakers lost nine league games and last season Hodgson's men suffered six defeats on home soil.

"I thought this was the first side in the last two-and-a-half years that enjoyed playing in front of the public at home," said Hodgson.

"I thought we'd won them over with the Rochdale performance and the Notts County game was a big stride forward in getting the public to believe in us.

"We went out on Saturday against a side that hadn't won away from home and in typical Darlington fashion we gift them a win."

Hodgson also revealed Saturday's performance has left him with no option but to make changes when Quakers travel to Bristol Rovers this weekend.

"It might be a case now that some are getting a bit too comfortable in the side," said Hodgson. "Some might feel that they only need to put in a half decent game, but I think now is the time to start reshuffling the pack.

"I'm not happy with the manner in which we lost today, especially after all the work we've put in during the week."

Midfielder Anthony Peacock will undergo treatment this morning after taking a knock on Saturday.

The 20-year-old was substituted at half-time after injuring his back and is rated at 50-50 for the weekend. Carlos Logan should recover from a thigh problem in time to line-up at the Memorial Ground, while Akpo Sodje is nursing a sore ankle after burning it with an ice pack.

Goalkeeper Sam Russell came through the Oxford game without any problems and will continue to build up his fitness this week.

Quakers will travel to Kidderminster Harriers in the first round of the LDV Vans Trophy, Northern Section.

The 194-mile trip is the second longest Hodgson's men could have made.

* Carlton Palmer has resigned as Mansfield manager.

"I have had a good career and I don't need to take the abuse from the crowd," Palmer said.

Read more about the Quakers here.