Darlington begin the second half of their season this evening with their first home game for more than seven weeks, and manager Steve Staunton is demanding that his side carry on where they left off on Saturday.

The weekend defeat at Crewe saw Quakers 3-0 down at the break, before an improved showing in the second half.

At The Northern Echo Arena against Northampton Town, Staunton wants a continuation of the form shown after the break at Gresty Road.

“It’s a case of bouncing back but we have to continue from where we finished in the second half on Saturday,” said Staunton.

“The first half performance at Crewe was bitterly disappointing, there’s no getting away from that and the players don’t need reminding of it.

“But I was pleased with how we responded after half-time, there was a lot of pluses we could take from our second half display, and I’d expect us to carry that in to the Northampton game.”

With Darlington’s match at home to Aldershot Town having been rearranged for Tuesday, March 23, (7.45pm), this evening’s game represents the first of eight Tuesday night games.

Staunton is keen to take advantage of Quakers having 13 of their final 23 matches at home, and he wants the Darlington fans to continue showing their support.

He said: “Seven out of our next ten games are at home and that could be crucial.

“If we’re to gain any ground, then the games in hand at home will be critical.

That’s what makes Tuesday’s game so important.

“The fans have a big part to play in this. Some may think any hope of a revival were dashed after Saturday’s setback, but that’s not the case.

“We’re no further away than we were before Christmas.

There are still a lot of games to be played over the course of the next four months. We’re realistic and we know it’s still a tall order, but it’s not out of the question.

“If I believe we can still do this then our supporters have to as well and come in their numbers to give the players a boost and help their confidence.

“Our supporters were fantastic again on Saturday, they are sticking with us through thick and thin.

“Hopefully they can see that, although results haven’t been great, work is in progress and we’ll get there eventually, we’ll just have to stick at it.”

Having stuck with the same XI on Saturday that overcame Rotherham last week, Staunton is unlikely to make many changes although Simon Madden is likely to start.

Northampton could move to within ten minutes of a new club record if they keep a clean sheet this evening.

The Cobblers have not conceded a goal in any of their last five matches.

DARLINGTON (probable): Liversedge; Madden, Miller, White, Giddings; Waite, Dempsey, G Smith, J Smith; Purcell, Diop.