DARLINGTON'S list of injured stars reached double figures after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Leyton Orient.

Already without six players for the season, plus Adam Marsh and David Brightwell on the treatment table, Mark Ford (ankle), John Williams (groin) and Glenn Naylor (Achilles) are all now doubtful for the home game with Southend tomorrow.

Manager Gary Bennett said: "We will have to make changes again for Tuesday, and that knocks us out of our stride a little bit.

"We have possibly 11 players out who would probably be first choices. Not many teams could cope with that situation, but fortunately we have players who can step in.

"The pleasing thing is that the supporters are behind us. They realise the situation we're in with the injuries."

The absence of Williams could mean a place in the starting line up for Frenchman Jean-Michel Cau, who replaced him on Saturday.

Meanwhile, skipper Craig Liddle made an instant decision to ask Glenn Naylor to take the 42nd-minute penalty for the foul on Steve Harper. Normally Mark Ford would take spotkicks, but the midfielder had limped off early in the game with an ankle injury.

"The gaffer wanted me to take it, but I've never taken a penalty before, so I told Glenn to take it" said Liddle, who nearly scored himself in the first half.

"He stuck it away quite well actually, and I was surprised when he told me it was a long time since he'd taken one.

"I thought we should have taken all three points, even though we had a late scare."

Naylor said he missed the last penalty he took, in the penalty shoot-out at Solihull in the FA Cup three seasons ago.

"I missed the first one that night," he said. "Craig asked me if I would take the penalty on Saturday, and I thought that I might as well. I decided to pick my spot, and not change my mind, and fortunately it paid off."

Midfielder Mark Kilty enhanced his reputation with another solid display.

"I'm happy just to get a run in the team," he said. "We would have been happier with three points, but we have to take everything we can get.

"We're battling away a lot more now. Two months ago if we'd gone a goal down, we would have collapsed."