Darlington are fast becoming the whipping boys of the Third Division.

Just five League games into the new campaign and it doesn't take a crystal ball to predict what's in store for Mick Tait's weary men, who lie just one place above the Football League basement.

Hull City, Kidderminster and Northampton have all claimed maximum points at the expense of Quakers this season and, at Spotland, a very ordinary Rochdale side added their name to an ever-growing list.

This Saturday sees Quakers face the only team below them in the Third Division when managerless Carlisle head to the Reynolds Arena.

Tait and his players will need no reminding that defeat is not an option.

And the Quakers boss has seemingly resigned himself to the fact that he'll have to get the best out of his current crop of players, with no imminent arrivals in the pipeline.

Quakers have now conceded nine goals on their travels already in the League this season and Tait believes basic errors cost his team at the weekend.

"The lads have put their hands up where they've made mistakes, so at least they've been honest," said Tait.

"We made mistakes in the second half and it cost us the game.

"We gave the ball away too easily and put ourselves under pressure.

"The formation wasn't right in the first half but we decided to leave it until half-time.

"We came out in the second half, looked pretty comfortable and I thought we'd create plenty of chances."

With defender Joey Hutchinson fit again Tait made one change from the side which beat Leyton Orient on Bank Holiday Monday with the Teessider replacing French midfielder Fabian Bossy.

The opening half hour saw Quakers withstand a barrage of pressure from the home side.

Where last season saw the emergence of Clark Keltie, this campaign may well see the rise of another young prospect in defender David McGurk.

The 20-year-old, who spent most of last season in the reserves, enjoyed another confident display and it was his timely block after just nine minutes which prevented Chris Shuker - on loan from Manchester City - from getting a clear shot on goal.

Northern Ireland international Lee McEvilly was next to test the Quakers rearguard but his snap shot failed to trouble keeper Andy Collett.

But for all the home sides dominance it was a rare attack at the other end which brought the game's first goal on the half hour.

Youngster Chris Hughes floated over a teasing corner and McGurk rose highest to send a bullet header beyond Dale keeper Matthew Gilks.

However McGurk's first goal for Quakers was soon cancelled out when McEvilly levelled from the spot seven minutes later. Gary Pearson was harshly adjudged to have fouled Shuker over in the box.

Four minutes later McEvilly claimed his second of the afternoon. Bundling the ball home from close range at the back post.

But just as Dale looked to be heading into the interval holding a 2-1 lead, Pearson turned from villain to hero, drawing his side level with a superb 35-yard effort.

As Quakers switched from a 3-4-3 formation to 4-4-2 for the second half - which saw Matt Clarke drop back into defence - former Dale striker Glen Robson linked up well with Barry Conlon, before the Irishman sent his curling effort inches wide.

But it was former Middlesbrough youth-team striker Paul Connor who restored the lead for the home side when his drive proved too hot to handle for Collett, whose parry could only help the ball into the back of the net.

And any hopes Quakers had of getting back into the game were well and truly put to bed when Leo Burtos completed the scoring, and a miserable afternoon for Tait's men, with a well struck free-kick past Collett, who has now conceded three set-pieces this season.

"There's no easy way out of it," admitted Tait.

"We've just got to work hard and try not to make as many silly mistakes like we did."

Read more about the Quakers here.