WHILE still early days, the league table does not make for pleasant viewing for those of a Darlington persuasion.

They are 18th after eight games, the latest being another defeat at home to further erode morale.

Scorelines can be deceptive, however, and arguably Darlington deserved more from Saturday’s game at home to Alfreton, who won 1-0 to go third.

There were positives to take, such as putting up a fight, forcing a handful of chances to equalise and generally improving on the previous Saturday’s shambles against Altrincham when there were boos at half-time and full-time.

“I’d not heard Darlington fans boo before and I hope it sank in with the lads,” said Tommy Wright, in reference to last week. “Football fans have a right to air their views, but these fans are loyal, they get behind the lads.

“They can handle getting beat if you give them work ethic. The fans did their beat today and were great to us.”

He tried to remain upbeat in the wake of the fourth defeat of the season, and the fourth match without a win at Blackwell Meadows (seven including the back end of last season).

He said: “I want to take some positives from this, have a positive week in training and go again next week because I don’t think we’re far off.

“I don’t want to dwell on today. It’s another defeat, but results don’t always paint a true picture and this one goes into that category.

“We will work hard this week in training to get what we want next Saturday.”

Points matter more than performances, however, they are the only accurate gauge of a manager’s progress and Wright is not shying away from that.

Some fans are less than enthusiastic at the moment, which is understandable given results and some performances.

Wright added: “I’m trying to keep the lads and the fans positive, and to be honest the fans played their part today, they were great.

“At the end they acknowledged the lads’ performance and I love them to bits for that.

“There’s always going to be the odd one or two who go too far and say things they probably shouldn’t, but that’s fans and they have a right to voice their feelings, but we’re trying to stay positive.”

Assessment of this game cannot be made without taking into account the number of players unavailable due to injury and suspension with Quakers’ starting XI being the 11 men left standing.

Midfielder Tom Elliott filled in at left-back while striker Simon Ainge again had to play in the centre of defence, due to Dom Collins and Terry Galbraith being injured, while Jack Vaulks was an unused substitute at Whitby Town.

A week last Friday Wright made the reasonable decision to give Vaulks game time on loan at Whitby. Since then, however, injuries have hit hard, while Whitby have started Vaulks in only one of three of the matches they’ve had.

Darlington’s decision to have a smaller squad this season was best illustrated by the bench, where 17-year-old Mitchell Glover was the most experienced player.

Also on bench duty were 20-year-old goalkeeper Matthew Bancroft and three 16-year-olds: Ciaran Banks, Abadoulaye Kaba and Brandon Morrison, but a tight game against full-time professionals is not the time to test young lads fresh from receiving their GCSE results, and for the second game running Darlington did not make a substitution.

And for the fifth game running Darlington conceded the first goal.

Alfreton caught Quakers napping after 67 seconds at a throw-in, Tom Denton flicking the ball on and Bradley Johnson pounced to score the 18th goal Darlington have already conceded.

They have yet to keep a clean sheet and in a poor start they were nearly punished again, but David Sheils headed wide.

But gradually Darlington asserted themselves against a team which invested heavily in the summer.

Harvey Saunders played in the centre of a three-man forward line with Reece Styche on the left, and Quakers built a head of steam in the second half.

Jordan Nicholson miscued in a good position eight yards out and Styche twice tested goalkeeper Sam Ramsbottom, the second effort being a long-range shot that the goalkeeper spilled, but fortunately for him it went over the bar.

“If that had been at the other end it would’ve been a goal,” added Wright.

“There was also a little bit of good play between Luke Trotman and Nicholson, I know that if someone else had a free shot eight yards out that would’ve been a goal.

“That’s where we’re at. The amount of balls that have been flashed across goal that we can’t prod in, and you’re looking for someone to connect. If roles were reversed it would’ve been a goal.”

Alfreton’ Sheils was sent off for being cautioned a second time on 80 minutes, but they simply sat deep and kept Quakers at bay.

Darlington are at home to unbeaten AFC Telford United this weekend, and Wright added: “We’ve had the better of the game in terms of possession and chances created and deserve something and we feel hard done by, but we’ve been beaten 1-0.

“I’m trying to be positive and hopefully the fans get behind us next Saturday and we can go one step further and win a game of football.”