FOLLOWING the disappointments of Saturday, Eifion Williams is refusing to be downcast.

The three-goal Hartlepool United striker looked on aghast as his team's defence gave away three slack goals against Milton Keynes Dons.

Pool meet Hull City tonight at Victoria Park, the LDV Vans Trophy tie the second meeting between the teams in five days.

Peter Taylor and his side return on Saturday for a League One game.

Neale Cooper's squad are hurting after Saturday's defeat and Williams admitted: "I thought it was the best first half performance we have had away from home in a long time.

"We should have gone in ahead, it wasn't the best of goals to concede.

"The early goal in the second-half really killed it and to be fair to the lad it was a great strike - but like the gaffer said to us after the game, we just didn't defend well at all.

"We could not believe what was happening really, in the first half we battered them.

"We got in a few times and created chances and they didn't create any in the first half.''

Williams created Pool's opening goal on Saturday, teeing up strike partner Adam Boyd.

But they gifted the Dons four goals before Boyd managed his second in the closing minutes.

He admitted: "Even at 4-1 we still had to keep thinking we could get back into the game, you can't think well that's it we have lost.

"They got a lot of confidence from the first goal and it went from there but it never should have.''

But he warned: "If we can play like we did in the first half then we are not far away from winning games.

"But if we play like we did in the second and defend like we did then we will struggle.

"We have three tough league games to come, but two of these games are at home and we are hoping to build on our form there.''

Hull will be without Nicky Barmby tonight, but he may recover from a twisted ankle by the weekend.

Pool midfielder Tony Sweeney sits out the first game of a three-match suspension after his dismissal on Saturday.

* Darlington are close to completing a deal to bring former Leeds United striker Clyde Wijnhard to the club.

The Dutchman will hold further talks with David Hodgson today after admitting a move to the North-East would appeal.

Wijnhard has been training with Quakers after seeing a money-spinning move to Dubai fall through earlier this month.

The 30-year-old - based in Leeds - has now set his sights on resurrecting his career back in England after finishing last season with Portuguese outfit Beira Mar, where he scored six goals in 13 appearances

Wijnhard, signed by Leeds from Tilburg Wll in a £1.5m deal six years ago, almost joined Sunderland last month, before Black Cats boss Mick McCarthy dropped his interest.

Quakers number two Mark Proctor last night confirmed discussions are at an advanced stage, with a view to signing the former Ajax frontman on a three-month contract.

"Clyde has been training with us since last week and we are hopeful of signing him on a short-term deal," said Proctor.

"We will be speaking to him again over the next few days so we will just have to wait and see.

"He has a good scoring pedigree and he would be a useful addition to the squad."

Hodgson is keen to add another striker to his ranks, despite the arrival of Alun Armstrong and Wijnhard, who has scored 75 goals in 228 career appearances, would fit the bill.

Meanwhile, Proctor believes tonight's LDV Vans Trophy first round clash at Mansfield Town will provide the perfect platform for players to stake their claim in the side.

Alun Armstrong (rested), Craig Hignett (groin), Curtis Fleming (knee) and Craig Liddle (shoulder) will not figure at Field Mill, but will be fit to face Southend on Saturday.

Midfielder Stephen Thomas returns to the starting XI following a hamstring injury, while American winger Gregorio Adolfo will make his second start.

Read more about Hartlepool here.