Dejected Darlington manager Mick Tait has told his players there are no excuses after Saturday's disappointing defeat at the hands of Kidderminster Harriers.

Quakers remain bottom of Division Three after second-half strikes from Danny Williams and substitute Andy Bishop ensured a losing start at the Reynolds Arena. And Tait refused to lay blame on the occasion and the historic opener getting the better of his players.

"The occasion shouldn't have affected the players one bit," said Tait. "It's just so disappointing to come to the new stadium and put in a performance like that.

"We wanted to put in a good performance and win the game in front of such a big crowd but it just didn't happen for us."

And while Tait was left to rue Quakers' second successive League defeat, the Quakers boss was quick to praise Ian Britton's side.

"Kidderminster deserved their victory because they were professional and worked hard," said Tait. "We made it easy for them though. We didn't cause them enough problems.

"You can't say they're better passers of the ball or anything like that but they did the right things.

"They got us turned when they had to turn, they put balls over the top, got us running backwards and we didn't hurt them.

"We're capable of doing so much better than that and the lads know it."

Quakers head to promotion favourites Northampton on Friday night with the Cobblers also desperate to record their first points of the season after a poor start. However, Tait is more concerned with his own team's plans after Saturday's dismal display.

"It doesn't matter who you play in this division," said Tait. "If you don't do the job right you won't win. If you do it right you've got a good chance whoever you play. It doesn't matter who it is.

"We worked all week on our passing and it was awful today.

"The pitch was a bit dry and sticky but you can't blame the pitch as an excuse."

Visiting boss Ian Britton admitted Reynolds' pre-match speech on the pitch inspired his players to victory.

While Reynolds held court and revelled in the adulation from the crowd, the visitors took note and used it to their advantage.

"We heard the chairman speak before the game and decided to spoil his day,'' said Britton.

"We didn't play as well as we can but we still had most of the possession and the few chances that they had we gifted to them."

Quakers will travel to Premiership new-boys Wolves in the next round of the Carling Cup. All ties will be played in the week commencing September 22.

Read more about the Quakers here.