Darlington bowed out of the Carling Cup on Tuesday night, but they put up a brave fight before losing 2-0 at Premiership new boys Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Quakers went down to goals by Alex Rae and Joey Gudjonsson either side of half-time, but created enough chances to have heaped more embarrassment on the home side. Barry Conlon saw one header cleared off the line and was just wide with another, while Ian Clark also went close.

The performance provided more encouragement for manager Mick Tait after his side stretched their unbeaten league run to four games with a battling 2-2 draw at Torquay United last Saturday.

But Quakers again finished the game with only ten men after Danny Mellanby was sent off in the 76th minute, just three minutes after Clark headed in Darlington's second equaliser of the game.

The Gulls went ahead through Steve Woods after 11 minutes, but Craig Liddle levelled two minutes later. The home side regained the lead through David Graham before Clark capped a good display after coming on for the injured Neil Wainwright after just five minutes.

Quakers take on Boston United at the Reynolds Arena tomorrow before facing Southend United at home on Tuesday night.