NEXT HOME GAME - TBC
NEXT AWAY GAME - SUPPORTERS XI ARE PLAYING WORCESTER AT MALVERN ON SUNDAY AUGUST 3rd AT 3.00pm

Monday, October 29, 2007

Preview: Bulls vs Darlington

Darlington travel to Herefordshire on Saturday looking to record their first win at Edgar Street in ten years.

That last win came in the League Two play-offs in May 1996, when a Dean Smith goal was not enough as the Quakers went away with a 2-1 first leg advantage. Since then they've only travelled to Edgar Street twice, securing 1-1 draws in both matches. Last season a Tamika Mkandawire goal cancelled out a first half effort from Alun Armstrong at Edgar Street before Darlington gained a 1-0 win in the return fixture in March.

Both sides have seen major squad changes since that game. Only four of the team that the Quakers fielded played in Saturday's draw with Chesterfield, while the Bulls have only six of the 14 still at the club. Rob Purdie, who rejected a new deal at Edgar Street, is likely to play at Edgar Street for the first time in someone else's colours - not in the midfield role he prefers but the full back role he was pushed into so many times for the Bulls.

Darlington have started brightly, with promotion the only aim for the expensively assembled squad. They lie 3rd in the table, with 24 points, but have not scored in their last two games against Chesterfield and Bradford. Their solitary goal conceded away from home cost them their only away loss so far at MK Dons. They have scored as many goals as the Bulls, 20 in 13 games, but as the Bulls have scored the majority away from home the Quakers have scored most of their goals at home leaving the game looking like a low scoring affair.

Top scorer is Tommy Wright, with seven goals. He missed the weekend match with Chesterfield but returns after suspension to face the Bulls. Former Premiership starlet Julian Joachim has again struggled for goals, bagging just two goals so far after a paltry seven last season.

Hereford United vs Darlington, Edgar Street, Saturday 3rd November, 3.00pm.