DARLINGTON have had more strikers than manager David Hodgson cares to remember this season and if they fail to achieve their play-off dream in May the Quakers boss will know exactly where it all went wrong.

Hodgson last night expressed his frustration at the forwards he feels have seriously dented Quakers' quest for a top-seven finish.

During the course of 34 league games this season, Hodgson has used nine strikers.

Simon Johnson and Clyde Wijnhard led the Quakers' front-line at Rushden on the opening day of the season.

But, a lot has happened since then.

Wijnhard was dismissed for a "serious repeated breach of club rules" in October and as soon as Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu found his scoring touch - sealing a move to Cardiff City in the process - Hodgson was another striker down at the turn of the year.

Equally ill-fated was Tresor Kandol's short stay at the club. After going AWOL in his first month, Kandol was sent back to Dagenham in January, before signing for Barnet.

Paul Hopkins and Kyle Lafferty have since been and gone following loan spells, while Johnson is now operating as a winger.

For all Hodgson has had to contend with, he sends his side out at Leyton Orient today just four points outside the play-off zone.

With a relatively settled strikeforce, fifth-placed Orient are on course for a top-seven finish, which has led Hodgson to lament the predicament he has found himself in this season.

He said: "Have a look at the top sides and look at what they've got - a consistent forward line.

"Everything went out of the window for us when we had to let Clyde go for unprofessional behaviour.

"Losing Clyde was a huge blow because there is no doubt he is a quality player, but in the circumstances we were left with little choice.

"When he left, we effectively lost Simon Johnson and then Guy (Ndumbu-Nsungu) disappeared on the day he was supposed to sign. Tresor Kandol is another story altogether.''

Hodgson attempted to sign Middlesbrough striker Danny Graham on loan without success this week.

"Try finding a striker at this time of the year - we're up against all the elements," added Hodgson.

"All we can do is get on with it and hopefully find a striker who will come in and do another job for us."

Guy Bates and Akpo Sodje will compete for a starting berth alongside Andy Cooke today.

Bates has made just two brief substitute appearances since penning a deal with the club until the end of the season.

While the departure of Lafferty has done little harm to Bates' prospects, Hodgson is reluctant to throw the 20-year-old in at the deep end.

"I'm not going to strangle Guy Bates," said Hodgson. "He's just a kid who is still finding his way with us.

"He might get a run out on Saturday, but what I want to do with Guy is ease him into the side and let him progress."

But, with just 12 games remaining, Hodgson has little time to solve his latest striker conundrum.

After back-to-back defeats to Peterborough and Shrewsbury and draws against Boston and Bristol Rovers, Quakers have lost significant ground on the play-off pack.

"With 12 games to go we know we need seven or eight wins," said Hodgson.

"We are capable of doing it, but I'm just a little bit disappointed that we haven't taken any points from our last two games.

"We should have got something down at Peterborough and with no disrespect to Shrewsbury we should have beaten them."

Despite their recent demise, Hodgson believes it would be wrong to dismiss Quakers' play-off hopes.

He added: "Any person who says the season is over is an idiot. It's only over when it's not mathematically possible.

"Until then I'm not interested in what other people say."

Not since 1966 has a Quakers side recorded victory at Brisbane Road.

But, Hodgson joked: "At least the good thing is there have been another 100 managers before me that haven't won there!"

Hodgson's preparations have not been helped by the loss of Joe Kendrick and Simon Johnson to injury. Kendrick is out with a hamstring strain, while Johnson has a thigh problem. Skipper Matt Clarke faces a late test on a groin problem.

While Hodgson ponders a full debut for Bates, Matty Appleby and Anthony Peacock are also in contention against the Os.

Orient are without Craig Easton, who starts a two-match ban.

Shane Tudor is close to full fitness after an ankle injury and could come in for Easton on the right of midfield.

Martin Ling's side are just two points outside the automatic places and defender Matt Lockwood sees the visit of Quakers, and then Barnet next week, as an opportunity to close the gap.

"We've two winnable home games coming up. It's important we take maximum points."

* Darlington last night secured the services of former Middlesbrough full-back Robbie Stockdale, who signed a one-month loan deal from Hull City.

"We needed to bring someone in to boost the numbers and Robbie fitted the bill," said Hodgson.

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