New arrivals such as Tadgh Purcell has raised hopes at Darlington

Darlington assistant manager Kevin Richardson has praised the efforts of the players amid their struggle against relegation in League Two this season.

Since Richardson and his former Aston Villa team-mate, boss Steve Staunton, have arrived at Darlington they have reshaped the squad.

And Richardson told BBC Tees: "The form has improved, performances are better and we're showing more commitment.

"We're trying to squeeze a bit more, and that's credit to the players."

He added: "We've got to try to maintain it and keep going."

The Quakers' improvement can be seen in the fact the team have taken the lead in five of their last seven League Two games, although all but two of those games have ended in defeat.

And Richardson admitted his players have to respond as a group, rather than look to the defence and goalkeeper to resurrect their form.

"It's not an individual thing, it's a collective thing, as a unit you attack together and you defend together as a unit," said Richardson.

"Our defenders can defend, we'd like to think, but the midfielders and the strikers have to help out, give their support and defend from the front.

"They've got responsibilities, and they're trying, and now we're playing so many games, is it fatigue, or is it a mental thing? That's what we'll be looking at over the next few games."

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