AFTER securing a much-needed win last weekend, Darlington are looking up and hoping to make ground on the teams ahead of them in the table.

Winning at FC United of Manchester saw Quakers rise three places to 16th, and due to it being an FA Cup week there are only five fixtures in the National League North on Saturday.

That means Tommy Wright’s team could rise again - four of the five teams directly ahead of them do not have a league match – if they beat fourth-placed Boston United at Blackwell Meadows.

“It will be a tough game against a very experienced side who are fresh off the back of two very impressive victories, against Curzon and Blyth,” said Wright, who has is hoping for a positive atmosphere.

During games fans have remained largely supportive of their team and manager, who was appointed one year ago tomorrow, though online there has been criticism in his direction.

“We need the fans behind us from the start and throughout the game, we want a positive energy in the ground again,” he said.

“If people don’t want to support me that’s fine, but please get behind the lads and their club.”

He has some selection dilemmas. Harvey Saunders will start, so Wright must decide whether to leave out Simon Ainge or put Reece Styche on the bench.

The striker was used as a substitute in Gibraltar’s historic first ever competitive win last weekend, away to Armenia, though he was suspended when his international team won again in midweek, beating Liechtenstein on Tuesday.

Styche’s international commitments saw him miss the win at FC United, which means Quakers qualify for a compensation payment from UEFA. The amount will not be known until the UEFA Nations League concludes.

Jordan Nicholson made an impact when used as a substitute last Saturday, so he has good chance of replacing Alex Henshall, while Liam Hughes will be available.

Wright was concerned last weekend about Hughes due to a hamstring issue, but he came through the 90 minutes unscathed.

Wright added: “Liam tweaked his hamstring in training so it was a risk playing him, but he got through it. He hurt his thumb during the match but his hamstring seems to be alright.

“His fitness was great, we know about Joe Wheatley but he played 90 minutes and I thought he was outstanding. We ran the game in the middle of the park, him and Tom Elliott were everywhere.”