Darlington manager Mick Tait believes his players have brought their recent slump upon themselves.

Three straight defeats are the results of self-inflicted wounds caused by silly defensive mistakes, according to the manager.

And ahead of this afternoon's Third Division clash with Football League newcomers Yeovil Town, Tait has warned his players that any thoughts of a revival will not be fulfilled if they continue to gift-wrap the opposition goals.

"We've given bad goals away in the last three games and unless that stops we're going to make it really hard for ourselves to win matches," said Tait.

Quakers have conceded ten goals in their last three outings, which culminated in Tuesday night's 3-1 defeat at home to Hull City in the LDV Vans Trophy.

"We played well on Tuesday night but still managed to give away three goals," said Tait. "The sooner we cut the mistakes out the better. I understand that people don't make mistakes on purpose but people make wrong decisions.

"These things can be put right because they're decision-making mistakes."

Providing Quakers can address those problems, Tait has every confidence that his side can compete with the best in the Third Division.

"We can beat anybody in this division as long as the players do their jobs right," said Tait.

"It's as simple as that. At this moment mistakes are coming too frequently."

Danny Mellanby and Gary Pearson are available following suspension and the pair made the 300-mile trip to Somerset with the rest of the squad yesterday. Both may well start, with Pearson likely to replace the suspended David McGurk at the heart of the defence and Mellanby challenging for Barry Conlon's place in attack alongside Matt Clarke.

Midfielder Neil Maddison is also pushing for a recall after impressing against Hull.

Winger Neil Wainwright resumed light training this week following a foot injury but Tait admitted today's clash at Huish Park may be a game too soon for the former Sunderland man.

"Neil joined in with a bit of training on Thursday but the weekend is not really looking that good for him," said Tait. Striker Glen Robson remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.

And while the return of Mellanby and Pearson has provided Tait with some comfort, the Quakers boss is still without five first-team players.

Given the size of his squad - 19 - Tait has reason for concern.

On Tuesday, Hull City boss Peter Taylor fielded a completely different eleven to the one which beat Carlisle two days earlier, a luxury Tait can only dream about.

"We want everybody back as quickly as possible," said Tait. "I want to have problems picking the team, not one which picks itself!"

Yeovil boss Gary Johnson has his own injury worries as defender Roy O'Brien, striker Chris Giles and on-loan full back Ronnie Bull all look set to miss out with knee injuries.

Former Quakers striker Kirk Jackson, whose 25 goals last season helped the Glovers to the Conference championship, may have to settle for a place on the bench.

Goalkeeper Chris Weale is available again and Johnson must decide on whether to hand his first choice keeper a recall, or keep faith with Steve Collis.

Like Quakers, Yeovil go in to today's game on the back of two straight league defeats.

"We'll be going there to get three points but we'll have to work hard to get them," said Tait.

"They've done very well. They're a very attacking side so they're going to win some games and lose others due to the way they play."

Meanwhile, Darlington hope to receive a date for goalkeeper Andy Collett's operation next week.

The former Middlesbrough stopper is expected to be out until December with a punctured lung.