Darlington need to develop a nasty streak, according to Gary Smith after their latest defeat.

Steve Staunton’s first game in charge ended in a 2-0 loss at top-of-the-table Dagenham & Redbridge, leaving Quakers with two points from 12 games.

They began Saturday’s match quite reasonably, but were left stunned by two goals inside a minute, the first coming after an error from goalkeeper Russell Hoult.

Staunton delayed speaking to the media after the game, but Smith explained: “He wasn’t shouting at anyone afterwards, he wasn’t picking people out. He just said we’ve got to be stronger all-round, we’ve got to dig people out and be a bit nasty like Dagenham were.

Get in people’s faces, maybe do a few fouls and be nasty to play against.

“The first goal killed our confidence but we’ve got to be bigger than that. We had started the game well so the goal was a killer. We’ve got to be better mentally.

“We did well to begin with, the goal was just a bit of a mistake and that’s what’s cost us so far this season, stupid mistakes.

If we can eradicate them we’ll be a better team.

“We’ve got to be strong as a team and we’ve got a new gaffer so I’m sure everyone wants to impress.

“There were good bits of play but we need to have more of a killer instinct and I’m sure that will come.”

With a quarter of the season gone, Darlington are adrift of their relegationthreatened rivals but Smith feels that Quakers can turn their season around.

“I think it is like starting all over again,” said the Middlesbrough- born midfielder.

“The gaffer was saying that this is like a new season now, we’ve got to take it like that.

He seems a good manager, a good motivator and he’ll get the best out of us.

“We’ve got to fight and scrap for every point now.

“There’s a feeling that we can get out of this. There’s no point being here otherwise.

We’ve got a good squad and I believe that, with the people the gaffer is going to bring in, we’re going to do better.”

■ Darlington’s youth team drew 0-0 with Bradford City at The Northern Echo Arena.

The Darlington Supporters Trust are holding a talk-in with special guests Craig Liddle and Neil Maddison on Thursday at the Beaconsfield pub in Barnard Castle (7pm).