Cheltenham game off - Quakers on the Up ?

Quakers match away at Cheltenham Town on Saturday has been postponed due to a frozen pitch at Whaddon Road. Darlington already have a packed schedule over the remainder of the 2009/10 campaign due to the amount of postponements the club suffered in December and early January and now Steve Staunton`s side will have to contend with another midweek game before the end of the season.

Only 5 games in the entire Football League programme were called off so Darlo were extremely unlucky that their game in the south west was one of those that fell foul of the weather. Only 2 games throughout the whole of southern England were postponed and unfortunately for Quakers one of those was Cheltenham Town`s home game.

Darlington do not have a game during the week so Steve Staunton`s side will be well refreshed when they next take to the pitch to take on Rotherham United at the Arena on Saturday February 6th. Darlo could well be 11 points below 2nd bottom Grimsby Town by the time of the Millers game if results go against Quakers this afternoon.

Darlo have looked a much improved side in the 3 games they have played since they returned to action after the enforced lay off over the festive period. Steve Staunton looks to have made a number of solid signings however these players may have been signed a little too late to save the club from relegation.

Gary Dempsey and Tadgh Purcell who have both come in from the League of Ireland look to be accomplished performers. Purcell`s 2 goals in his first 3 appearances will have given the fans hope that Quakers may have finally found a forward who can find the back of the net on a regular basis.

Simon Madden and Alan White should help Darlington to become a lot more stable at the back while the loan capture of custodian Shane Redmond also looks as it could be a good move by the clubs management team. Another transfer window capture Gareth Waite has looked at home in midfield despite the fact that the former Northern League player has played his entire career at a much lower level. Waite seems to have time on the ball and the tall schemer looks like he can easily hold his own in the Football League.

Quakers now have a much improved squad compared to the players that were at the club in the first half of the campaign. However Steve Staunton`s side would have to show such superb form over the next couple of months it is debateable whether Darlo can fight their way out of the predicament the club find themselves in.

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