Conlon looks to end scoring drought

The 24-year-old, who scored 17 goals last season, has not found the net since the opening day defeat at Hull City. And this afternoon the big Dubliner will be hoping to break his duck against long-term admirers and Third Division basement boys Carlisle United.

Conlon has so far endured a frustrating season, where he started alongside no fewer than three different strike partners.

Defender-cum-striker Matt Clarke is Quakers boss Mick Tait's latest choice to partner Conlon and the former Halifax man looks set to keep his place for what promises to be a real scrap for points.

Quakers lie just one place above the managerless Cumbrians, who last week parted company with Roddy Collins before appointing midfielder and former Rochdale player-manager, Paul Simpson, on a caretaker basis.

And Tait believes Carlisle, who have scored just one League goal all season, will be just as desperate to kick-start their poor start.

"The games against Carlisle are always big anyway because they always bring a good following," said Tait.

"But today there's that added importance because we're both at the wrong end of the table at the start of the season.

"Obviously it isn't the end of the world for both teams at such an early stage of the season but neither of us want to spend much longer near the bottom.

"The sooner we put it right the better."

Tait is refusing to panic after just five games but warned a bad result today could add more pressure on his side, who have claimed just one League win this season.

"It's only early days, but after Saturday the team that loses will be even further behind," said Tait.

"The longer it goes on the more people lose confidence and get nervy.

"We've just got to get out there and have a real go."

And while Tait remains typically upbeat despite seeing his side take just one win from their opening five League games, he admits that record has done little for morale.

"I don't care who you are, if you're not winning games it affects you," said Tait.

"If you losing games you lose a bit of that mental strength.

"What we must do is battle through it.

"There's always good to come and that's what we've got to keep looking at.

"We will win games but we've got to start pretty soon."

It was Tait who instilled some much-needed self-belief into a struggling Quakers side last season when he suffered just one defeat in his first 12 games since succeeding Tommy Taylor in October.

And the Quakers boss has vowed to do all he can to help the club out of its current rut.

"There's always ways to lift the players and that's what I must do now," said Tait.

"You take the bull by the horns and you have a real go."

Tait, meanwhile, revealed his players needed no psyching up yesterday after reports in the national press claimed former Newcastle United striker Peter Beardsley was being lined up to replace him.

The Quakers boss also revealed his players were none too impressed with rumours which linked Colin Todd, Mick Wadsworth and Ray Stewart with the Quakers' hotseat.

"I wish the game had come a day earlier because the lads were in no mood to take anything from anyone," said Tait, who is expected to make at least one change from the side which was beaten at Rochdale a week ago with Ashley Nicholls in line for a recall.

The former Ipswich youngster was dropped after the defeat at Northampton, but looks set to return as Tait hopes for a positive response from the 21-year-old, who has so far failed to rediscover his form from last season.

Winger Neil Wainwright is available again after a three-match absence.

The former Sunderland man has recovered from a groin injury, but may have to settle for a place on the bench. The Cumbrians welcome back Middlesbrough-born striker Steve Livingstone after a three-match ban.

The former Grimsby forward was sent off on his debut at York on the opening day of the season.

Carlisle will also hand a start to former Quakers winger Adam Rundle.