DARRELL CLARKE turned back the clock on Saturday as he helped keep Hartlepool United on top of Division Three.

Clarke played an unfamiliar wing-back role at Gay Meadow as Pool. And the 24-year-old revealed his last game in that position was his League debut for Mansfield back in 1995.

"It's not a position I normally play, but the gaffer gave me a job out there and I was happy to do it,'' he admitted.

"I made my debut there a few years back at left wing back, but it wasn't a problem.

"It's a bit different defensively, but I thought it was OK.

"It's not my normal game, but if I'm asked to play there then I'll do it. Humps had to play wing back against Bury and none of the players will moan about being moved around.

"It's all about the team and helping each other. Of course we were disappointed to lose at home last week, but now this result puts that one to bed.

"That defeat has gone now. Our away form has been good this season and we are still undefeated.

"We are not going to go through the season winning everything.''

And after making it a club-record 11 games without defeat away from home, he added: "It seems like years ago since we lost away from home.

"It helps so much because we have a settled squad now. Everyone knows where they are on the pitch and what job they have to do out there. Now we have to keep the standards up of how we have been doing in the last ten or 11 away games.''

Turner kept Paul Arnison, Pool's regular right wing back on the sidelines on Saturday and said of Clarke: "He sort of played there the other week at Bury because he took over on the right. I'm trying to keep the team the same as best we can.

"There was a doubt about Luke Rodgers playing on Saturday, but we had the players on the pitch so we could switch straight away to 4-4-2 if we had to. It's a bit of gamble putting Darrell there, but in terms of him having the ball at his feet he is an excellent player.

"I'm hoping that we are on top for most of the game so that he isn't having to defend and instead is able to get forward and hurt the opposition.''

Marcus Richardson appeared for his Pool debut in the closing stages and made an instant impact, harrassing the home defence with Matt Redmile particularly bothered by his arrival.

"It's nice to have a different option like that. I put him and Paul Smith on for a bit of extra height in there," he said.

"They were launching high balls into the penalty area and we had to cope with it.

"But Marcus has more than just his height. He has showed a great turn of pace at the end when Eifion went through on goal, he was a long way behind him but kept going to catch him up. As soon as we put him on Redmile had a problem. He was winning most things in the air, but then he had someone up against him to cause problems.

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