TOMMY WRIGHT says he will select a strong side for tonight’s Durham Challenge Cup tie at home to Stockton Town, the Darlington manager eager to put an end to a poor run of results.

His team have not won any of their last eight matches, Saturday’s 3-2 loss at Chorley being the fourth defeat in a row.

While any players carrying injuries will not be risked, Quakers will field a team including senior players at Blackwell Meadows (7.30pm).

Asked if he would select a relatively strong XI, the manager said: “That’s the plan. When you’ve been losing games it’s important to try and win any game.

“We’ve got new lads through the door, we’re sticking with the system and we need to perfect that. We can do it, it’s about fine-tuning now. The more the lads play together the better.

“There’ll be a couple that are carrying knocks that are left out, but the players will fit the shape, not the other way around, the players have got to adapt because we need continuity now.”

Stockton, runners-up at Wembley last season in the FA Vase final, are ninth in the Northern League and in Jordan Robinson and Nathan Mulligan have two former Quakers in their squad.

Defender Robinson, a Martin Gray signing in 2013, had been playing in Sweden before signing for Stockton during the summer, while Mulligan, now 32, was brought to Darlington during Steve Staunton’s tenure.

Mulligan scored when Quakers won 1-0 at Rochdale in April 2010 on the night that, despite the result, Darlington’s relegation from the Football League was confirmed.

Meanwhile, Quakers are at third-placed Altrincham on Saturday, by which time Wright expects to have bolstered his squad with the addition of two more loan signings, a centre-back and a central midfielder.

They were both due to be involved in a Barnsley youth team match yesterday, and Wright said: “We wanted these lads in two weeks ago and they would’ve played the last two games.

“We’ve had to be patient because they are Barnsley’s players. They will play their last game for them on Monday and then they’ll come to us for a month.”

Admission this evening is £6 for adults and £3 concessions. Parking at Blackwell is available at £5 per car.