After three precious points in the promotion race last week, it’s another away trip to an in-form side tomorrow, in the shape of Darlington. As if the prospect of a trip to the frozen wastes of the North East wasn’t enough, however, we have also to face the prospect of coming up against two former players – and we all know what can happen when that’s the case!

Out for the rest of the season, it now appears, will be Ian Roper. The big centre half has, thank God, been diagnosed as suffering medial, rather than cruciate knee ligament damage, but that still means at least 6 to 8 weeks on the sidelines. Just to make matters worse at the back, Chris Westwood will certainly be missing with a sore hamstring and Allan Picken has been suffering from tendonitis in the aftermath of his knee operation and is still not available.

Skipper Michael Dobson, after his second half heroics last week, is facing a fitness test on a sore calf. That seems to leave us down to the bare bones at the back, and not much better off in central midfield, although Richard Money is hinting at a return there for Darren Wrack. As for the full back berth, that seems to be a straight fight between Pead and Lyall, although the Official Site is hinting that Mark Wright may be considered there!

The two Ks, Kevin Harper and Kevin Cooper will, of course, be looking to carry on with their impressive start, but the BBC are reporting that Cederqvist also has a strain which might keep him out.

The line up is likely to be:

Ince, Pead or Lyall, Gerrard, Dann, Fox, Harper, Keates, Wrack or Pead, Cooper, Sam, Butler.

Subs are anyone’s guess, but Bossu, Pead or Lyall, Wrack and Wright could all play some part and Bradley might well come in a central defensive cover.

Darlington? Well, manager Dave Penney is still talking in terms of reaching the play-offs after a recent good run, but to manage that, they really do need to win their home games, no matter who the opposition is, so expect a hard game.

Their strike force is always going to give teams problems at this level, which brings us back to former players. Up front, they will have Tommy Wright, who was, of course, on loan to us earlier in the season, but faded after a promising start. In reserve on the bench, should the starters begin to misfire, will probably be another ex Saddler, Julian Joachim, who got the winner in their last game away at Torquay after coming on as sub. Alongside him, they might even have former Middlesboro man Alun Armstrong. Darlington are a bit like Swansea and Sheffield United in that they have a multitude of strikers on their books and, if the current bunch misfire, they just get another in!

Darlington go into the game in eighth place, just two points behind Wycombe, who fill the last of the play off slots, but a full 7 behind Stockport, in the next position. That last spot does seem to be between them, Wycombe, and Hereford, with the likes of the fast improving Shrewsbury as outsiders.

This week’s pub-guide is something of a confessional, as back in the early to mid 90’s I used to be a bit of a closet Darlo watcher (wouldn’t go so far as to say fan, although I did once get quite excited when Phil Brumwell passed to one of his own team).

Back then the delights of Darlo was one of football’s best kept secrets. A ramshackle town centre ground within walking range of some great pubs, a fabulous Victorian station and the world’s cheapest chip-shop.

Cheapness was certainly the order of the day, and to that end Hogan’s bar outside the station was what the Darlington trip was all about. It is still ludicrously cheap, and despite its somewhat dodgy reputation is one of my favourite pubs of all time. Spacious bar, friendly staff, big screen and a crazy juke box that used to have tunes like the theme to Coronation Street.

If sepia-walled eccentricity flops your mop and you want a cheap drink near the station then I guess look no further. However….like all establishments of this type with Hogan’s you can never be quite sure what you are going to get. Cheap drink attracts life’s bottom feeders unfortunately, and its proximity to the station can bring its own problems on a match-day, so proceed with caution. If you have shiny shoes the chances are you’ll be mistaken for a policeman, if you’re talking to somebody with shiny shoes the chances are he is one, its that kind of place.

However, if Hogan’s is having an off day please don’t be tempted into The Speedwell further down towards Victoria Road towards the town, its name is spookily apt. In fact there isn’t really any need to go into the town now of course the football ground isn’t there anymore but if you do then my recommendation would be the not so aptly named “Quaker Coffee House”, a splendid real ale bar.

Like their not so favourite cousins from Hartlepool the Darlo fans have been busy on the message board with information about bars at the new ground, and apparently Bar 66 at the stadium is the pick, boasting both a big screen for the early kick-off and a warm welcome for away fans. Once inside the ground you have the choice of Smiths or Fosters from the concourse, but hey that’s not bad for division 4 where beer is only available in a handful of stadia.

Then its a short journey back to mine for free beer, well for me anyway!!.

The rest, have a safe trip home, and for those staying in Newcastle enjoy your night out.

There seems to have been a change in editorial policy on the Official website.

Yesterday, a feature appeared on it and Saddlers World called “From The Treatment Room”, which consists of Jon Whitney giving an update on injured players Ian Roper and Allan Picken.

I, for one, hope that this is going to be a regular feature, as many other clubs do this in order to keep fans up-to-date with the injury situation with players and helps them to understand the problems the manager may be having with his team selection.