Dave Penney is convinced Darlington can quickly return to winning ways after seeing their unbeaten start to the season end last week.

MK Dons became the first League Two side to take all three points from the Quakers this season and manager Penney was unimpressed by the tactics which ultimately earned the Dons their victory.

Paul Ince's side were unrelenting in their long-ball approach, with their reliance on long-throw specialist Jude Stirling a particularly trait.

It was via his 89th-minute throw that Dons scored the only goal which turned what would have been a satisfactory point into a heart-breaking defeat for Darlington.

Quakers rarely threatened MK Dons' goal but despite that, and the fact that Darlington lost for the first time, Penney says his players remain upbeat ahead of today's home match with Peterborough United.

Having remained unbeaten during the first six league games of the campaign, he retains confidence in his top-of-the-table squad, saying: "After a defeat you can sometimes think, 'should we change this, should we change that', but there's not a lot wrong.

"MK Dons are a good side, they will be towards the top of the division, or thereabouts, at the end of the season, and they struggled to beat us in the 90 minutes of play.

"The only way they were ever going to score was from a long ball into our box.

"The mood among the players is fine. It was a bit down for ten minutes after the game but after that it was forgotten about and we started to think about Peterborough."

In reference to MK Dons' rudimentary tactics, Penney joked: "We had a practice match in training on Monday and we looked excellent, very sharp. We didn't play much football on Saturday so we thought we would have a game between ourselves!"

Although he has considered making changes for today's game, any tinkering will be limited and one of the players assured of his place is the rejuvenated Julian Joachim.

As one of only four players to have started all eight league and cup games this season, his form is a major reason for Neil Wainwright and Kevin McBride being unable to break into the first-team.

Joachim is one of Penney's first names on the teamsheet, along with Steve Foster, Pawel Abbott and Tommy Wright, who are the only others not to have missed a game so far.

Penney said: "Julian has been excellent and that's why Kevin and Neil can't get into the team.

"I thought he was our man of the match at MK Dons. Going forward and defensively he was excellent.

"We feel we are getting the best out of him on the right, but I wouldn't be afraid of putting him upfront if need be. It suits us to have him on the right and he is still frighteningly quick."

McBride arrived from Motherwell as a right-winger but started the first four matches of the season in central midfield, from where he scored Quakers' first goal of the season against Wrexham.

But he has missed the last four games after being dropped by Penney, who wants his Scottish signing to toughen up.

Penney said: "When he played well it was in pre-season games. League games are a lot more physical and that's the area he has struggled in. On the ball he is as good as anybody, so he's been told he needs to add a physical side to his game.