On Saturday we host York City looking to return to winning ways after a disappointing 3-0 defeat at Harrogate on New Year’s Day (writes Simon Hahn).

The defeat left us in 18^th place in the league table, two points ahead of the bottom three.

York City were able to complete a festive double over bottom of the table North Ferriby United on Monday, as a Jon Parkin double earned them a 2-0 win at Bootham Crescent. Veteran Parkin is the league’s joint top scorer with 18 goals so far.

Martin Gray left us as manager earlier this season to take over as manager of York, sitting outside of the top seven having suffered back-to-back relegations.

Players Adam Bartlett and David Ferguson also made the move shortly after along with several of the backroom staff.

The two sides have a long tradition of fixtures against each other having met many times over the last few decades in League Two and the National Premier.

Our latest meeting earlier this season was an exciting 0-0 draw in August – you can watch the highlights here:

http://darlingtonfc.co.uk/35315-2/

Kick off on Saturday is 3:00pm, updates on the game will be made from the club’s Facebook, Twitter and Website. Live Commentary will be broadcast from Darlo Fans Radio at 2:50pm.

Statistics:

Quakers last five matches:

1^st January Harrogate town (away) lost 0-3

Talbot, Collins, Heaton, Brown, Scott (sub Galbraith 55), Gillies (sub Mills 69), Turnbull (sub Saunders 55), Wheatley, Thompson, Styche, Syers

Subs: Glover,Caton,

26^th December Harrogate Town (home) won 3-1 Styche 2, Thompson pen

Talbot, Collins, Heaton, Brown, Scott, Gillies, Turnbull, Wheatley (sub Glover 90), Thompson, Styche (sub Saunders 57, sub Mills 86), Syers

Subs: Marrs,  Caton,

Booking: Turnbull, Glover

23^rd December Gainsborough (away) lost 1-3 Styche

Darlington: Talbot, Thompson, Brown, Collins, Galbraith (sub Heaton 25), Mills, Portas (sub Syers 25), Turnbull, Caton (sub Marrs 44), Gillies, Styche

Subs:  Scott, Saunders

24/11/2017 Harrogate Town (h) Trophy lost 2-3 (Styche 2)

Wilczynski, Galbraith, Collins, Brown; Trotman, Mills (sub Gillies 80); Turnbull, Portas (sub Saunders 79), Syers, Thompson (sub Caton 81); Styche

Subs: Vaulks, Bancroft,

18/11/2017 Tamworth (h) lost 0-1

Darlington: Wilczynski, Trotman, Galbraith, Wheatley, Collins, Brown, Mills, Syers, Caton, Gillies (sub Saunders 78), Thompson

Subs not used: Scott, Bancroft, Portas, Heaton

]

Leading scorers: Josh Gillies, Reece Styche  5

Team news:  Defender Luke Trotman will have a fitness test, all other players except Chris Hunter are expected to be fit.

Current league position:  18th

York City

Last five matches

01/01/2018 North Ferriby United (H) Won 2-0

Bartlett; Law, Burn, Bencherif, Ferguson; McAllister (Rowe 64); Moke, Pattison; Connolly (Smith 81); Parkin, Morgan-Smith (Gray 55). Unused substitutes: Parslow, Simpson.

26/12/2017 North Ferriby United (A) Won 4-1

DBartlett; Law, Burn, Bencherif, Ferguson; McAllister (Rowe 88); Moke, Pattison; Connolly (Smith 88); Morgan-Smith (Gray 70), Parkin. Unused substitutes: Parslow, Simpson.

23/12/2017 Blyth Spartans (H) Lost 3-2

16/12/2017 Kidderminster Harriers (A) Lost 2-1 FA Trophy

02/12/2017 Boston United (A) Lost 2-1

Current league position:  9th

Away form: Played 11, won 5, drawn 2, lost 4 (7^th highest away points total in the league)

Leading scorer: Jon Parkin 18 (joint highest in the league)

Earlier this season:

York 0 Darlington 0

York: Worsnop, Law, Whittle, Bencherif, Parslow, Moke (Connolly 74), Newton, Heslop, Rankine, Morgan-Smith, Almond

Subs: Muggleton, Smith, Felix, Sukar

Darlington Bartlett, Hunter, Galbraith, Turnbull, Collins, Brown (sub Scott 46), Gillies (sub Thompson 69), Syers, Beck, Caton (sub Saunders 58), Ferguson

Subs: Wilczynski, Fenwick

Attendance 2944 (1041 from Darlo)