Pride coming back to Hartlepool United

Following a morose few years, Pools have rebuilt their squad and have started the season with back to back wins, without conceding a goal.

You have to go back to 1967 for the last time they managed that feat.

Tuesday’s win at Fleetwood put Pools in tomorrow night’s second round Capital One Cup draw and, following a memorable finale to last season as the club remained in the Football League when relegation looked a certainty, there’s a positive feeling around the club.

Boss Ronnie Moore, who is in Spain to be with his daughter who has been taken to hospital with pneumonia, has signed ten players over the summer.

Assistant Collins, who orchestrated Tuesday’s win from the touchline, admits the players are showing everything they wanted.

“I think we are starting to see now what we hoped for when we brought these lads in – honesty and effort. Lads who want to work hard for each other and the team, we have a great bunch of lads here now,’’ he reflected.

“I’m sure they are going to make everybody proud.

“If you could see the lads in the dressing room after the game on Tuesday you could see what it means to them. When you have lads with that willingness to work for each other you have half a chance – add that to their ability and we have a real desire to do well.

“Two clean sheets in a row, we will take that and as a defender that’s what you want. But we know we will always create chances and we did it against a team from League One.

“It’s good to be able to look forward to the draw. Before the season started we felt there was a feel-good factor about the place and even without the football being on, things felt good around the club and we want to keep it going.’’

“The draw? I’d like Man United, but ask the lads and they will all come up with something different and it would be nice for the club to get a big club away from home. Let’s just keep winning.’’

Pools have played 3-5-2 throughout pre-season, but a 4-3-3 formation was forced upon them last week because of injuries taking hold.

It’s worked so far and Collins admitted: “It’s brave to go away from home and play with three up front, but it worked so well on Saturday we felt we would just stick with it.

“Up until the end of last week was the first time we thought about playing that system and then because of injuries we felt we had to change.

“Now we will see where we go again.

“The front three are the key – they are so honest, non-stop work, they chase defenders down all game. Billy (Paynter) was starting to cramp up a little bit, Scott (Fenwick) chased and looked a little bit tired and we have three up front who work their socks off.’’

And Collins had words of praise for goalkeeper Adam Bartlett. He was signed as back up for Trevor Carson, but injury has given the former Gateshead stopper an early chance.

“Adam has been brilliant since the first day he came to us. Tony Caig has been brilliant in getting him in and he’s been outstanding,’’ said Collins.

“The two games, he’s done very well. I don’t think there’s two stronger goalkeepers in the division and Adam has come in and been outstanding in training and in games.’’

Bartlett started out at Newcastle as a junior before leaving St James’ Park without making a first-team breakthrough.

And there’s no doubt who he wants in this evening’s draw.

“Newcastle away," said the 29-year-old. “That would be a nice day out for me!

“I came right through the ranks there, from a nine-year-old up to the reserves. I played 30 times for the reserves and was involved in just one senior game.

“I was fortunate enough, as a 17-year-old, to travel with the squad to Inter Milan in the Champions League. I travelled to a few Premier League games, but it was for the feeling of being with the first-team squad.

“But it would be great to go back to Newcastle, my boyhood club, the team I've supported since I was a young lad. To get the chance to play in a competitive game would be brilliant.’’