Quakers' spirit shows through as Iron fail to show their strength

The Iron are the division's pace-setters, leading the way after seven games and they remain unbeaten but Quakers, despite still limping along without a much-needed striker, provided a good match for Brian Laws' side.

There was very little to choose between the two sides in an entertaining game on Saturday.

Scunthorpe may be top but although the division's name has changed, one thing that has remained constant is the standard which remains average, at best.

Last season, when Quakers finished eight points from the relegation zone, they demonstrated how close the standard of teams in the division is by taking 14 from a possible 21 points against the top seven sides.

That included remaining unbeaten against two of the promoted teams.

And on Saturday, bottom club Chester City - very poor as Darlington turned them over 3-0 the previous week - took three points from fifth-placed Macclesfield.

David Hodgson has asked for his players to show more consistency and, prior to Saturday, Darlington had won two, drawn two and lost two - consistently average you could say.

All that's required to succeed at this level is an organised side not dependent on strikers scoring all the goals, as well as consistency.

But probably most important is a solid, reliable defence and so far at least Quakers appear to be reasonably sound at the back.

The back line provide the foundations on which a team is built and although Scunthorpe did have their scoring chances, they didn't hit the back of the net.

Goalkeeper Sam Russell collected his third clean sheet in seven games and has conceded just four goals so far - in the bottom two divisions only Oxford United have let in fewer.

The defence may be a strong-point but it's blatantly obvious where Darlington's problems lie.

And although Matt Clarke and Craig Russell are doing their best they're not the answer. Clarke, a defender playing upfront, looks exactly that, while Russell has never been prolific.

While the defence has been excellent for the most part, it cannot be relied upon to stand firm week after week.

Assistant manager Mark Proctor was satisfied with a home point and said: "One big plus point is that we've only conceded four goals and that's down to our organisation behind the ball being spot on.

"As long as you can keep a clean sheet there's always the chance you can nick a goal to win 1-0.

"You couldn't tell which was the team at the top of the table and which was in mid-table.

"It is tight in this division, especially with it only being at the beginning of the season, but we've put a little run together of three unbeaten games and all you've got to do is win a couple in a row and you shoot right up the table."

A win would have moved Darlington up to fifth and Russell came close to giving Quakers a first-half lead but could only scuff wide from a good position following good work from Ian Clark down the left-wing.

Stephen Thomas saw a powerful first-half shot from 20 yards saved and from the rebound an unmarked Russell produced an embarrassing air-kick although his blushes were saved by a flagging linesman.

A largely uneventful first half sparked into life five minutes before the break thanks to referee Trevor Parkes who refused Clarke permission to re-enter the pitch following treatment to a head wound, which angered both sets of supporters.

But after the game Parkes explained the laws of the game state he, and not the fourth official, must check bandages to cuts before a player can return to the field of play.

His interventions did seem a little unnecessary - as was his second-half request to have Craig Liddle's torn captain's armband replaced.

Nevertheless, Parkes succeeded in igniting the game and a lively second half followed which almost saw The Iron take the lead at the outset, but Lee Ridley's glancing header went just wide.

Shortly afterwards Clarke should have done better than head wide following a Mark Convery free-kick.

Minutes later the big targetman could have nabbed his third goal of the season but was too slow to react to Brian Close's ball across goal as Darlington finished the stronger team.

Substitute Joe Kendrick - dropped to the bench for the first time - popped up in the box only to see his left-foot volley saved, and a Neil Wainwright pass fell just behind Russell close to goal.

But considering each team hadn't recorded a scoreless draw in their last 59 matches combined, perhaps the blank scoreline was almost inevitable.

At the moment Quakers are just about getting away with their weak forward line but surely it's only a matter of time before injuries hit and dips in form occur.

It is hoped the club will exit administration today which would allow Hodgson scope to bring in new players with Leeds United's former Middlesbrough play-maker Craig Hignett a possibility.

Chief executive Andy Battison meets with the Football League today when he will discover whether the club can end its stay of more than eight months in administration and if Hignett can sign.

Hodgson says Hignett will join if he's not offered the contract he wants at Leeds, for whom he's yet to make an appearance since signing in the summer, and that the matter should be resolved by the end of the week, but the 34-year-old ex-Leicester star is not the forward Quakers crave.

Striker Hicham Zerouali is on trial at the club and may feature in the home reserve game against Halifax on Wednesday (2pm).

Read more about Darlington here.