Don't panic. That is the upbeat message from Darlington manager Mick Tait ahead of this afternoon's clash with Leyton Orient at the Reynolds Arena.

Quakers remain rooted to the bottom of the Third Division and without a point after Friday night's third straight League defeat at Northampton Town.

However, Tait is refusing to join in with the pessimists and doubters, who have already condemned Quakers' season.

"I've said to the players it's only three games and it feels like the end of the world for everyone," said Tait. "All we have to do is come out firing again, put a bit of effort in on Monday and we will be OK.

"It's when I don't get that effort that I start to worry, but when we do I know we're more than capable of winning games."

And the Quakers boss will be looking for the same kind of commitment against the Os, who are fresh from a 2-0 win over Third Division newcomers Yeovil at the weekend.

Tait was encouraged by an improved performance at the Sixfields Stadium, and believes it may have been a different story had skipper Craig Liddle's first-half strike not been disallowed for offside, followed by Barry Conlon's miss moments later.

"We were on the end of a few harsh decisions and in the end that cost us," said Tait. "We had a goal disallowed and Baz missed a good chance after that.

"We would have went 2-0 up and I think we would have won that game. We should have been well ahead and that cost us in the end.

"I asked them for that effort and commitment and I couldn't question any of the players on that.

"We were whole-hearted, gave 100 per cent and with a little bit of luck and better finishing we would have won that game."

Tait is unlikely to include Joey Hutchinson today as the defender has not yet fully recovered from the hamstring injury he picked up on his debut at Hull over a fortnight ago.

"We've rushed players back before and got away with it, but if you don't then you could end up losing players for three or four weeks," said Tait.

"It's still a gamble if he plays on Monday really."

Winger Neil Wainwright is Quakers' only other casualty with a groin injury.

Tait also has to decide on where to play Matt Clarke after the big defender was used as a target man alongside Conlon on Friday.

Read more about the Quakers here.