DARLINGTON manager Alun Armstrong wants an instant reaction from his players at Buxton this evening.

Quakers lost their top-of-the-table clash at King’s Lynn at the weekend in disappointing style, slipping to their first defeat in nine league games.

The loss leaves them in second place in the National League North table, three points behind the Linnets and a point clear of the pack, which is headed by third-placed Scarborough.

“We must make sure that we pick ourselves up and get our heads right,” said Armstrong. “We must get at Buxton from the off.

“The quality in the squad is there, but we must make sure that we react better than we did after the second goal at King’s Lynn on Saturday.

“I thought we didn’t play anywhere near enough football, we just went back to front far too easily. We weren’t confident enough to get on the ball, and people went into their shells. I don’t want that.

“We gave King’s Lynn too much confidence after the first goal. If you look at those first two goals, we lost possession of the ball too easily.”

Buxton, who were promoted from the Northern Premier League last season, are currently sixth from bottom with one win, one defeat and four draws from six home league games so far.

“We need to bounce back,” added Armstrong. “I’ve said to the lads that it’s about how they react after a defeat. I’ve been on these runs many times and if we get a win, then off we go again. We’ll need the fans behind us to pick these lads up.

“You’ve got to remember that our players are part-time. They’ll have worked Monday, most of them will be travelling (on Tuesday), and then back to work on Wednesday.

“We’ve got to accept that situation, but we’ve got to make sure we put in better performances. We’ve got to have more belief in ourselves.”

Quakers are hoping to add midfielder Jarrett Rivers to their squad after he pulled out of the trip to Kings Lynn because of illness. Defenders Kallum Griffiths and David Wheater are both still struggling with injuries and will probably be missing.

Buxton will include former Darlington former midfielder Tom Elliott in their squad. Former Spennymoor manager Tommy Miller is assistant manager at Silverlands.