DAVID HODGSON can forget talk of a top seven place at the end of the season and concentrate on ensuring Darlington aren't occupying the bottom two come May.

Hodgson's problems show few signs of easing after they were beaten by Shrewsbury Town at Gay Meadow last night.

The pressure is mounting on the Quakers boss - his side having now failed to win in their last five league outings - and it is not the promotion form many predicted at the beginning of the season.

In arguably the most important season of his managerial career, Hodgson must seek ways to raise his morale-drained charges if he is to turn Quakers' season around.

They were given hope when Phil Stamp cancelled out Mark Stallard's seventh minute opener on the stroke of half-time.

But, after Neil Sorvel restored Shrewsbury's lead early in the second half with the aid of a wicked deflection, Hodgson's men showed little fight when it mattered most.

Neil Ashton's 68th minute strike - another deflection - effectively killed off any lingering hope Hodgson's men had of getting back into the game.

To add to Hodgson's problems, Tresor Kandol failed to travel with the rest of the squad yesterday, although his absence was not the result of a car accident. The manager refused to comment on Kandol's situation last night, although it is believed the forward failed to turn up for training on Sunday.

"It was a wicked game," said Hodgson. "We conceded a couple of goals through wicked deflections. Bert Bossu must be wondering what he has done to deserve this.

"We had several chances and I was pleased with some of the things we did. But we need a goalscorer - it's as simple as that."

Former Quakers duo Richard Hope and Stuart Whitehead formed Shrewsbury's central defence and any hopes Hodgson's side had of taking control of the game were soon dashed.

Calamity keeper Bossu has yet to keep a clean sheet for Quakers and it took just seven minutes for Shrews to beat the Frenchman.

While there may have been more Bossu could have done about Stallard's low drive, Carlos Logan was Quakers' biggest culprit, inexplicably passing the ball into the path of the Shrewsbury forward.

With the home side in control the Quakers defence found themselves stretched; Stallard thundering a header over from six yards out, before Jamie Tolley sliced a 25th minute effort wide.

To their credit, Quakers showed plenty of character, with Stamp providing the drive from midfield on a difficult playing surface.

But, just as the visitors began to re-organise, their momentum was brought to a sudden halt when referee Bob Desmond pulled up with an injury in the 37th minute. The unexpected entrance of replacement Paul Danson could only suggest it wasn't going to be Darlington's night.

The former Premiership referee caused outrage in January 2003 when, ironically, he sent off Whitehead, then a Darlington player, in a controversial 3-1 defeat at Torquay.

However, the Leicestershire official's decision to play three minutes over the allocated two, allowed Quakers to draw level before the break.

There didn't appear to be any immediate danger when Stamp was fouled 35 yards from goal. But the Teessider had only one intention as he stroked the resulting free-kick into the top corner.

However, any hopes Quakers had of building on Stamp's superb leveller suffered a cruel setback in the 51st minute. Sorvel's 25-yard effort was nothing more than speculative, but, with the aid of a deflection, the ball dropped past the unfortunate Bossu.

Shrewsbury goalkeeper Joe Hart then produced two saves in quick succession to deny Quakers - Ndumbu-Nsungu and Joe Kendrick both finding Hart in top form.

The game was effectively ended by Ashton's first goal for the club in the 68th minute with his effort deflecting off Jonjo Dickman

Shrewsbury Town 3 -1 Darlington

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