Darlington's attempt to get back to winning ways has been hit by the news that key wideman Neil Wainwright and replacement Mark Convery are missing from today's game at Torquay.

Both were absent from the team coach which left Darlington yesterday morning, giving manager Gary Bennett a selection poser.

Wainwright had looked certain to make the Devon trip, but a course of antibiotics has failed to clear up an infection in his groin, while Convery is suffering from blisters.

This leaves Bennett with a gap to fill on the right side of midfield, but with the squad's new-found strength in depth, that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

The reserves put in a tidy display against York on Wednesday evening, with Convery starring on the left side of midfield, which is where he would have played today, with Richard Hodgson switching to the right flank in place of Wainwright.

But Brian Atkinson has travelled as part of the 18-man squad after managing 30 minutes in midweek, while Gary Pearson, yet to make a first-team appearance, may be given an opportunity.

Bennett has other options at his disposal, with Paul Heckingbottom on the brink of a return, although the versatile Paul Campbell tweaked a hamstring during the second-string game.

Whatever team Bennett fields, it will be one determined not to repeat last week's performance at home to Carlisle, who were unfortunate not to take all three points.

For the second week running Quakers come up against a team placed at the wrong end of the Third Division this afternoon, and Bennett is looking for a marked improvement.

The Cumbrians charged into a deserved two-goal lead and although Quakers managed to salvage a point, Bennett is demanding his side doesn't get itself into the same situation at Plainmoor today.

"We know we were poor last week. I didn't need to tell any of the players that," he said. "They know it doesn't need me to tell them because they're all professionals now.

"Before last week they'd set standards for themselves and last week they didn't meet them. At Torquay it's up to us to make sure we get back to those standards."

Carlisle were the most physical side Quakers have encountered so far this term, and last Saturday's scoreline suggests their tactics worked.

Within seconds of kick-off Craig Liddle was grounded by a heavy challenge and Danny Mellanby was soon on the receiving end of some rough treatment.

Bennett admits his team's keep-ball game can infuriate and frustrate teams into rough-house tactics.

"We're finding teams are more physical against us," said Bennett.

"If we're going to pass the ball around like we do and not let teams get the ball from us, they're going to try to kick us.

"They're going to pin-point players like Neil Wainwright, Danny Mellanby, Craig Liddle and Neil Maddison.''

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