BY Liam O’Brien
Blyth Spartans travel to Blackwell Meadows tonight to face Darlington.
Both sides suffered 2-0 defeats away from home in their last games with Spartans losing to Leamington and Darlington losing to King’s Lynn Town.
When these sides met at Blackwell Meadows last season, it was a 1-1 draw and it could well be a similar scoreline with both teams struggling for form this season.
Key details
The game at Blackwell Meadows will currently not be segregated and Blyth fans will enter via the home turnstiles at the East of the ground.
Blyth fans will not have access to view the game from the East Stand
(main home support stand).
Blackwell Meadows is a no smoking/vaping ground.
The Opposition
Darlington have had a slow start to the season collecting eight points from eight games so far this season.
They find themselves three points away from Bradford PA, who are in the relegation zone on goal difference.
They will be hoping to get back on track after defeats to Bradford PA and King’s Lynn Town.
Manager
There will be a familiar face in the dugout for Darlington.
Former Spartans manager, Alun Armstrong has been in charge of Darlington FC since leaving Blyth at the end of last season after guiding the Spartans to a play-off spot.
He took some Spartans players with him as well. Michael Liddle, Louis Laing, Jarrett Rivers, Jordan Watson, David Atkinson and Jamie Holmes all joined him at Darlington in the summer.
Key man
Former Newcastle United striker Adam Campbell will be lining up for Darlington this season after signing for them on the 3rd July 2019 following his release by Morecambe at the end of the 2018-19 season.
He has scored three goals so far this season including a 90th-minute equaliser against Altrincham.