Darlington manager Gary Bennett has warned his players that there'll be no excuses when Lincoln City visit Feethams today.

Quakers go into the game on level points with Lincoln and needing victory to halt a slide in the league which has seen them collect just four points out of the last 27.

The slump has seen them fall from fifth in the table to 17th - from the fringe of the promotion battle to the brink of the relegation fight.

The mood of the fans has turned to depression in the last few weeks and another defeat today will stretch their patience to the limit as the season threatens to fall apart.

Bennett's patience almost certainly snapped with some players after the dismal midweek FA Cup defeat at Luton and he said: "I can't understand why there's no fire in some of them," he said.

"It might be the way things are nowadays in football. One or two players stop playing too easily when they think they've been fouled, or there's a decision from the referee which they disagree with. I'm sick of hearing excuses when they concede goals, complaining that they were held or pushed or had their shirts pulled.

"The game has changed in ten years. When there was pushing and shoving in the game ten years ago, we got on with the game and battled back - now some players just seem to stop.

"Look at Manchester United and their passion. It hurts them when they're losing on the field, and also after a game when they've lost.

"Defeat doesn't seem to hurt some of our players, they just shrug their shoulders. Sometimes they don't seem to know what it means to lose a game.

"I can only do so much for them. I can't give people pride or passion - it's something which you're born with and is inside you."

Bennett suffered his lowest point as manager after the Luton game, and vowed there will be no repeat. Quakers certainly can't afford one, with bottom club Carlisle, who are ten points behind, showing signs of a revival.

Quakers have a tough programme ahead. After today's game, they are at league leaders Chesterfield on Boxing Day, then make the trip to struggling Exeter on December 30 before entertaining the division's best away team, Rochdale, on New Year's Day.

Bennett could make three changes today, with new signing John Williams possibly starting the game alongside David McMahon up front.

Defender Neil Aspin is suspended, so it could mean a return for Phil Brumwell, although Mark Kilty is also in the running.

Meanwhile, chairman George Reynolds is promising more new signings after the holiday period.

"We are going to bring in more players in the New Year," he said.

"We have our eyes on two midfielders to add to the squad.