IAN McParland blasted his Notts County side after last night's defeat at Darlington, and said: "I need players with courage."

The Magpies have still not won an away game in League Two this year and have now lost three of their last four on the road – against Rochdale, Bury and now the Quakers.

The last time they won away was 1-0 against Grimsby Town on Boxing Day.

McParland felt the defending for Robin Hulbert's decisive early strike was 'a disgrace'.

And he admitted their opponents showed more spirit and fight than his players.

"We have set high standards this season and it wasn't good enough," said McParland.

"We gave away a schoolboy goal, it was a disgrace.

"Darlington worked hard and battled. They have not been paid this month but they still went out there and battled.

"It was a good goal from their point of view but our centre-halves should never have got in that position.

"Once they scored the supporters got behind them.

"It was always going to be difficult after that, we gave ourselves a mountain to climb. But I still thought we were going to get back into it."

McParland took no consolation from an improved second half display.

"We got into the game but still couldn't break them down. We didn't show enough guile," he added.

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"We had all of the play but the ball was like a hot potato to some people and I keep saying I am going to get people with courage here.

"I don't just want players who want to join in when it's nice and we are whizzing the ball around. I want players who will battle and roll their sleeves up when we go to places like Darlington on a Tuesday night.

"We will keep playing football but sometimes you have to go and win the battle before you win the war and we didn't win the battle.

"I feel sorry for the supporters because we didn't give them enough."

The defeat came just three days after the Magpies claimed their best win of the season at Meadow Lane, beating promotion-chasing Bradford City 3-1.

"I said to them before the game that the Bradford game was gone, it was history," said McParland.

"We can't live in the past, we have to look to the future at this club and I want players with courage."

The absence of veteran defender Michael Johnson was the only change from the emphatic win against the Bantams, with Adam Tann switching into the centre of defence alongside captain Mike Edwards.

McParland admits Notts missed the presence of the 36-year-old against Darlington.

He said: "Johnno is a leader. He talks, pulls people about and organises them but we have played without him before and done well.

"He is a big player for us but it's a bad job if we have to depend on him."