Darlington boss Mick Tait has warned his players that defeat is not even an option ahead of this afternoon's crunch clash at Lincoln City.

Tait takes his side to Sincil Bank on the back of just one League victory in nine - an alarming run which has plunged Quakers into serious relegation danger.

Just six points separate them from the second relegation spot and that gap could be halved come quarter-to-five today.

"We can't even contemplate defeat," warned Tait. "We've had three defeats in our last four games so we've got to make sure we stop that.

"There's no doubt about it. We have to go there and look for three points."

On Tuesday, Quakers lacked the cutting edge to finish off a struggling Rochdale side, despite dominating for much of the game.

And Tait moaned: "It was yet another one of those games where really we should have came away with a win.

"When you're dominating games the way we have been you tend to think sooner or later it's going to change.

"Before you know it you've lost a couple and you're down there. We know we've played well enough to be much higher up the table.

"We just have to improve on our quality, especially in the final third.

"The concern is that we're not winning games we should be winning. For most of the game against Rochdale they just defended and looked to hit us on the break.

"They did it once, scored a goal and were able to hang on."

Tait refused to lay blame on his strikers after Tuesday's defeat and feels service to the likes of Barry Conlon and Ian Clark remains his major concern.

"The other night it wasn't our finishing that let us down, it was our approach play," said Tait.

"We have to make sure we approach the Lincoln game in the right way and prevent them from taking a hold of the game."

Eighth-placed Lincoln provide the first of five testing games ahead for Quakers.

Next week they face a difficult trip to play-off hopefuls Wrexham and entertain derby rivals and champions-elect Hartlepool a week later. Games against York (sixth) and Bournemouth (third) follow.

Today's opponents are level on points with York for the final play-off spot and Tait is full of praise for Keith Alexander's side, who held Quakers to a goalless draw at Feethams in November.

"They've done really well this season," said Tait. "They've pulled lads out of non-league who have come in and done well.

"We played well against them at home and that was a pretty one-sided game."

Quakers winger Neil Wainwright is "touch and go" for today's game after it emerged he had suffered a hamstring strain during the Rochdale defeat.

Neil Maddison should return for the first time since injuring his thigh at Torquay three weeks ago but may have to settle for a place on the bench.

Danny Mellanby and Matt Clarke will both travel with the squad, although it remains unlikely that the pair will feature.

Mellanby is still lacking match practice while Clarke remains a doubt with a hand injury.

Irishman Barry Conlon plays his last game before serving a one-match ban after reaching five yellow cards this season.

Lincoln will be without striker Dean Cropper, who is almost certain to miss the rest of the season after damaging knee ligaments during a friendly against Grimsby in midweek.

However, Alexander is boosted by the return of Paul Smith from suspension.

Read more about the Quakers here.