Pools’ quiet progress (From The Northern Echo)

Pools’ quiet progress

10:37am Tuesday 24th November 2009

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CHRIS Turner is quite content for Hartlepool United’s progress to go unheralded.

Pools take on Southampton at Victoria Park from a comfortable spot in League One, ten points ahead of Alan Pardew’s side, who lost ten points for going into administration.

Turner’s side are 12th after Saturday’s loss at Huddersfield, although victory tonight could put them up to eighth.

“People don’t look at Hartlepool as contenders, as a team that can do well,’’ he reflected.

“We are always classed as a second-class club, whatever division we are in. It might take another ten years of the same improvements and status we have had to change it.

“But on the flip side, I don’t mind because we are nicely placed and tucked in there, a couple of wins and we could be in the play-off spots – that’s how close we are.

“If we can be there after 30 games, tucked in there, then we have a chance, a chance of doing something.

“If we stay in the top half, that’s progress.’’ Tonight’s visitors will train at Crook Town’s Millfield Ground this morning and Turner said: “Southampton have some real quality – they have paid around £1m for Rickie Lambert who will score 25 goals minimum and he’s already on 10/12 now.

“David Connolly probably wouldn’t have gone to another club in this division, but would go to there with 25,000 every week in a big new stadium.

“That’s the pull they have and having watched their recent games, they are a very good side.’’ Lambert scored for Bristol Rovers against Pools on the final day of last season before his switch to St Mary’s.

And central defender Gary Liddle is well aware of what he is up against tonight.

“It’s another big team and they might be at the bottom, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see them sneak into the playoffs,’’ he said.

“It’s another test for us. We lost on Saturday and we gave Huddersfield a test – we feel we can give anyone a game.

“We were up against it, but in the first half we kept them at bay and played very well.

“Huddersfield didn’t really have big lads up front, but it will be different on Tuesday.

“They have experienced lads up front and it will be a test for us.

“Lambert is a strong lad, he’s a fantastic player at this level.

“He always gave us a problem at Bristol Rovers and he has Connolly alongside him who is a threat.’’ Leon McSweeney is likely to replace hamstring injury victim Colin Larkin tonight.

Pools: Flinders; Austin, Collins, Liddle, Hartley; McSweeney, Jones, Humphreys, Monkhouse; Boyd, Brown.

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