Darlington will need a much better performance than they produced in Tuesday night's lacklustre goalless draw with Southend United if they are to extend their unbeaten league run to seven games at Mansfield Town tomorrow.

The Stags are in fifth place and recorded an impressive 3-1 win at Bristol Rovers as Quakers struggled in their first game under floodlights at the Reynolds Arena.

Mick Tait's side rarely threatened to follow up last Saturday's 3-0 home win over Boston United with another victory, the Shrimpers looking more likely to break the deadlock.

On the positive side, young keeper Michael Price made several decent saves to keep a second successive clean sheet as a replacement for the injured Andy Collett.

Tait made no changes from the team which scuppered Boston with second-half goals from Craig Liddle, Matt Clarke and Ian Clark.

Barry Conlon and Joey Hutchinson also struck the woodwork in the first half as Darlington recorded their fourth straight win at their new home, Clark's superb solo effort putting the icing on the cake.

The three points lifted Quakers into the top half of the table for the first time this season, but they are now 13th after the midweek action.