A POOR run of results has seen Darlington plummet down the table leading to understandable disillusionment among supporters, but now is the time that the players needs the fans’ support.

That is the belief of manager Tommy Wright, who says that without vocal backing then his team’s fragile confidence could crumble.

There has been growing unrest among supporters and boos heard at some recent Darlington matches, while there was even a minor altercation between a small number of spectators and striker Reece Styche three weeks ago.

That came following a 1-0 home defeat to Bradford PA in the FA Cup, with tensions high and all concerned deeply disappointed with yet another early FA Cup exit, when it had been hoped this year would be different.

The situation was resolved amicably, though one week later the team suffered another morale-sapping 1-0 home defeat, this time against Stockport County.

That result, two weeks ago, was Darlington’s latest match, after which Wright’s demeanour made his frustration clear. Demoralised, the manager found the continued failings of a team he has built hard to take.

But today offers an opportunity for three points as Darlington travel to bottom-of-the-table FC United of Manchester, one of the few teams in the division in worse form.

He said: “Sometimes you want the players to feel it as much as you, but the reality is that you also need them to bounce back and not dwell on what’s just happened.

“Players move on a lot quicker than management. We’re the ones that have to sit there and analyse it and look at where we’re going wrong.

“All I want them to do is play with freedom and enjoy their football with a smile on their face because that’s when they’re at their best, when the crowd are behind them.

“When the crowd turn on them their confidence goes they look a bad team, they don’t look like a team I recognise. We need the fans behind us.

“If the fans get on the players’ backs then this team will crumble because it’s that kind of group, they’re young lads and they need that 12th man behind them.”

Despite results – two wins in 12 matches, no goals scored in the last three games - Wright retains confidence in his players.

“Every game you play you want to feel it is winnable and I always have belief in the lads,” he said.

“FC United are struggling, they haven’t won at home and we are not in great form ourselves, but we are in better form than them.

“There are not many teams in the division with a record worse than ours, but they are one of them.

“But I can’t keep saying that I believe we are good team and that it is going to click - it has got to start happening and it has got to start on Saturday.”

Wright is without Styche as he is on international duty with Gibraltar. They play away to Armenia today, and at home to Lichtenstein on Tuesday.

Simon Ainge will replace Styche up front, while Joe Wheatley, who has a hernia problem, will start if he feels able to following Thursday’s training session.

Wright explained: “With Joe Wheatley we are taking it game by game, but he’s had a bit more rest since we last played.

“He hasn’t trained much, he’s done bits and pieces over the last couple of weeks, mainly in the gym and little bits with the physio and the fitness coach.

“He looked a bit leggy in his last game, but he hadn’t played in two or three weeks and that’s what can happen, players can become rusty.

“I think he’ll get used to the pain that he’s feeling, but it’s guesswork at the minute, we’re going on Joe’s pain threshold.

“Other than that everyone is fit and available apart from Reece, so I’ve got a selection headache.”