IN a week in which the football world mourned the death of Brian Clough, few managers would deny the legacy Old Big Ead has left behind.

Least of all Darlington boss David Hodgson, who, like Clough, has never been afraid to speak his mind.

Hodgson's bluntness is countered by his right-hand man and mediator Mark Proctor - who, during his playing days, had the 'pleasure' of playing under Clough at Nottingham Forest.

Proctor - a successful coach with the Middlesbrough youth set-up - has been touted as an eventual successor to Hodgson in the Quakers hotseat in some quarters.

That's a conclusion based mainly on Proctor's involvement in conducting several post-match interviews in place of Hodgson this season.

However, Proctor's intervention is based purely on giving Hodgson time to contemplate, without the risk of speaking his mind, which he so often does.

At the Moss Rose Ground on Saturday improvement was the buzz word as Hodgson sought a positive response from his players after his angry tirade seven days earlier.

Indeed, Hodgson's public lambasting would appear - result aside - to have hit the right notes. Quakers lost at Moss Rose, but at least the display was better than previous.

A week ago, Hodgson was typically blunt in his assessment of Quakers' worst performance of the season, despite holding an impressive Northampton side to a 1-1 draw.

At the weekend, Hodgson cut a much calmer figure, satisfied with the reaction of his players, which he felt mattered more than any result.

He said: "After the comments I made last week I was looking for an improvement, regardless of the result, and I would say there was.

"With more professionalism and a bit more care in the final pass we may have scored a couple of goals.

"Unfortunately we can't work on that and it is down to the individual who makes the pass.

"There was commitment and at times a little bit too much because we took bookings we could do without.

"The players feel this performance was better than last Saturday. They could have responded in two ways after what I said last week - it could be bad or it could be an improvement.

"We just didn't have the result to go with it."

After last week's below-par display it came as little surprise that Hodgson made four changes, including a full debut to American winger Adolfo Gregorio.

And with Craig Hignett sidelined with a groin strain, Neil Wainwright partnered Alun Armstrong in attack.

"Neil Wainwight tried hard with plenty of running, but it's not his natural position," said Hodgson.

"At times he gave the ball away lightly, where a more prominent centre-forward may have retained possession.

"We wanted to try and do different things. We changed the personnel but the whole point was to see if it could get any better than last week. I think it was."

Quakers gave a positive account in the opening exchanges and Gregorio showed little fear when he ventured into the Macclesfield half before cutting inside from the right and firing straight at keeper Alan Fettis.

And, after a patient build-up from the visitors, there were appeals for a penalty when Brian Close's effort appeared to be blocked by the arm of Danny Whitaker.

It was Whitaker who came inches from giving Macclesfield a 31st minute lead when he drove just wide of the target from a tight angle following good work by John Miles.

Matt Clarke looked a more than capable replacement for long-term injury victim Joey Hutchinson at the back when he showed good awareness to flick Mark Bailey's cross away from Matthew Tipton, lurking at the back post.

And moments later the woodwork came to Quakers' rescue when Paul Harsley smashed the underside of the bar when Sam Russell looked beaten.

The former Middlesbrough keeper - outstanding against Northampton a week earlier - saved bravely at the feet of Miles, before recovering to stretch and save the resulting rebound from the same player.

A rare slip from Billingham-born defender Tony Barrass allowed Wainwright into the box with half-time approaching but the ex-Sunderland man fired wide.

Making his second start for Quakers, Armstrong showed good strength to turn his marker on the edge of the Town area, before seeing his effort deflected over the bar by Michael Welch.

The second half was only two minutes old when Town took the lead through Bailey.

Tipton was allowed time down the left, before crossing for Bailey, who nipped in ahead of Ryan Valentine and poked the ball past Sam Russell on the half volley from six yards out.

Former York City striker Jon Parkin should have extended their lead in the 53rd minute, when he took a poor second touch into the box, allowing Clarke and Curtis Fleming time to combine and clear.

Macclesfield failed to relent and only the quick reflexes of Sam Russell denied them from doubling their lead in the 66th minute, tipping a Tipton effort around the post.

Sam Russell was then forced to make amends for an uncharacteristic kicking error, saving with his chest from Whitaker