INJURY-HIT Darlington could be missing five players for today’s game at Blackwell Meadows, when the pressure is on to improve on last Saturday’s limp performance.

Quakers were woeful when they lost 3-0 to Altrincham a week ago, with supporters booing at full-time after a performance that manager Tommy Wright admits he was “ashamed” of.

His team were better at Ashton United on Monday, fighting back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2, but fans expect to see another improved showing today against fourth-top Alfreton.

However, midfielder Joe Wheatley misses out as he misses the final game of a three-match ban, while fitness tests are required on four players.

Defenders Terry Galbraith (calf) and Dom Collins (ankle) are both carrying injuries sustained against Altrincham, Alex Henshall has a groin problem which has seen him miss the last two games while Ben O’Hanlon has become the latest doubt.

The left-back sustained a hamstring strain during the first half at Ashton, a game that saw Quakers name four teenagers on the substitutes bench and they are likely to do the same today.

Should Galbraith and Collins be unavailable striker Simon Ainge will again play at centre-back alongside Jonny Burn as Wright is unable to call on Jack Vaulks due to him being on a month’s loan at Whitby Town.

Wright sanctioned the transfer 24 hours before the Altrincham match, explaining: “Before the match we had three fit centre-halves and a striker that can play there if needed, then in one half of football – just 45 minutes into the game - two of them are suddenly injured.

“Also, Ben O’Hanlon might miss this weekend’s game and Terry is meant to be the stand-in left-back - sometimes everything seems to hit you at once, and probably next week everyone will be fit.”

Wright revealed he this week considered signing a defender and made contact with a couple of clubs, but decided against bringing in a loan player for effectively one match as he believes today’s starting XI is strong enough and expects his injured players to fully recover by next weekend.

On the likelihood of Galbraith, Collins, O’Hanlon and Henshall being available, Wright added: “I’m planning for worst case scenario and then anything else is a bonus.”

While a weakened team will start the match, supporters will expect much more from their team today than they got seven days ago, and Wright is aware of the fans’ feelings on the matter.

He said: “Monday was an improvement but we were still two points off what we wanted. The performance was a plus point because it was better than Saturday, but Saturday couldn’t have been much worse.

“Anything on Monday would’ve been an improvement – turning up and running around would’ve been an improvement.

“I was ashamed. It hits me probably twice as hard as it would some managers as I know how much it means to the fans to support this club.

“You have a responsibility at this club because the fans literally pay the wages – last Saturday was like going to work, putting your tools down, putting your feet up and expecting to be paid.

“The fans pay the lads’ wages and it was the most disrespectful thing to do.

“There isn’t one boss at this club, there’s maybe 1,500 of them.

“I can’t remember Darlington fans booing their team off the pitch, what happened rocked me, it really did.

“The performance shocked me, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and I didn’t see it coming.

“I left the ground ashamed by what had been served up - that was my team. Them lads know I loved playing at this club, and wouldn’t have turned in that.

"Nobody even smashed anyone in a tackle to provoke a reaction, there was nothing."

Last weekend’s loss means Darlington have now not won in six matches at Blackwell – three games at the end of last season, three at the beginning of this campaign.

Alfreton have won four of their seven matches – winning away at York and Stockport - with lanky striker Tom Denton second top in the scorers charts with six goals.

Wright added: “Their recent form has been impressive, and they have a tree up front, and we are going to have to mark him closely because he’s dangerous and I have a lot of respect for him.

“He’s powerful and whoever is at the back for us is going to have a tough task on their hands.”