Quakers head down to Derbyshire this weekend to take on Chesterfield as Steve Staunton`s side look to build upon last weekends home victory over Burton Albion. Simon Thomas could well start in wide midfield. The Crystal Palace loanee had his best game in a Darlo shirt last weekend after being switched to the wing and given that the Diop/Main forward partnership looked so promising Thomas may well have to be content with a midfield berth in the Quakers next few games.
Jonathan Hogg should make his Darlington debut tomorrow providing that his loan move from Aston Villa goes through without any problems. Hogg is a combative central midfielder who has an impressive goal scoring record in reserve and youth football. Some Villa fans are shocked that Hogg has dropped down to the basement division given his form Martin O`Neil`s reserve side which could indicate that the young English midfielder could be a superb signing for a side in League 2.
Hogg is likely to partner Gary Smith in the middle of the park, Smith has been in good form during the Quakers last few games and the former Brentford schemer is now establishing himself as Darlo`s most effective midfielder at this moment in time. Nathan Mulligan could well keep his place on the wing after the former Middlesbrough youngster made his full debut last weekend after being out of the professional game for a lengthy period of time. Mulligan was withdrawn after an hour of play last Saturday but he could keep his starting place for the game at Saltergate as he did show a number of nice touches when Quakers were in possession.
In defence Steve Staunton seems set to name the same back 4 that kept a clean sheet against the Brewers. Stuart Giddings gave a committed performance at left full back despite breaking his nose during the Burton game which demonstrates just how eager the former Coventry City man is to prove himself now that he has another opportunity in the football league. Corey Barnes is likely to remain at right back after a couple of solid displays despite his lack of defensive experience. Barnes has played most of his football as a holding midfielder and the youngster came into the first team in that position last season when Darlo had few players available to them. However the youngster has looked at home at full back this term in the Quakers last few fixtures.
Chesterfield sit 5th in the League 2 table with 29 points from their opening 16 games of the campaign. The Spireites are unbeaten at home so far this season and John Sheridan`s side will no doubt be confident that they can beat a side who are without an away victory this campaign.
The Saltergate based side have no new injury worries ahead of this weekends game and Spireites boss Sheridan is unlikely to make many changes to his side given that they have been in good League form of late. Chesterfield`s main danger man is Jack Lester who has spent most of his career playing at a higher level, his former clubs include Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United. Lester has scoreed over 20 goals in both of his campaigns as a Chesterfield player up to now and if he can manage to net that amount of goals once again this term the Yorkshireman will become one of the Spireites most consistent front men of all time.
Lester could well be paired with Drew Talbot up front, Talbot has found the back of the net 7 times so far this season but it has to be noted that Talbot only has 3 league strikes and his other 4 goals have come in minor cup competitions. The 2009/10 campaign could well be the 23 year old`s break through year as prior to this season the striker had made little impact in the Football League as a record of 10 goals in around 100 appearances illustrates.
Another Chesterfield player who the Darlo defence will have to keep a close eye on is livewire midfielder David Perkins. Perkins is currently on loan at Saltergate from Colchester United however most Quakers fans will remember him from his time at Rochdale as he scored against Darlington in the Play Off Semi Finals a couple of seasons back.
Quakers will have to be at their best to come away from Chesterfield with a positive result this weekend. However after last weekends encouraging home victory against Burton Albion, Darlo may just be able to come away from Saltergate with a point providing Steve Staunton`s side put in a fully committed performance.
