Manager Alex Smith has hinted at his displeasure at the lack of impact made by Alphonse Tchami, the Cameroon international striker, signed from Al Wasl three months ago. But he was quite candid also in his assessment of Mvondo Atangana and Neil Heaney, the wide man Paul Sturrock paid Darlington £125,000 for in July. "I do believe there are goals in Mvondo but he needs educated in aspects of the game such as bending his runs to avoid getting caught offside and at the moment he is feeling the pressure and suffering from a lack of confidence. "Heaney is a player that a few weeks ago I’d have been prepared to let go. And I still might, although he is now a lot fitter than when I first arrived. "He is playing for the under- 21s tonight and if he shows me something he would come into contention.

But it’s up to him to stake a claim." Fullarton, given a 15-minute- long debut against Dundee, and Lauchlan, who missed the top team derby defeat through suspension, also featured last night. "The pair of them are needing games," said manager Smith. "Fullarton has not played for six weeks, which is why we didn’t start him against Dundee. "I just felt his lack of match fitness and the way in which we were set up meant it was better to introduce him from the bench rather than throw him in."

Defenders Stephen Wright and Danny Griffin, meanwhile, are expected to take a step closer to playing this week. Wright, sidelined since the end of September by a knee problem, is poised to start light running. Griffin, who has yet to make an appearance for the club, returns to the specialist within the next few days hoping to be given the all-clear to emerge from a six- week spell of complete rest.©The Courier