HARTLEPOOL United boss Chris Turner is hoping this afternoon's trip to Southend will trigger a repeat of last season.

Pool's record-breaking 21-game unbeaten run started with a November win over Southend.

And after a stuttering start which has reaped just four points from five games, the Pool chief is hoping for a similar outcome this afternoon.

That 21-game run - a club record and the best unbeaten run in English football last season - propelled Pool from mid-table into the play-offs.

Now, Turner hopes that the improved performance at Scunthorpe last week will be repeated and Pool can enter back-to-back home games with Cheltenham and Kidderminster with a solid platform to build on.

"Our great run ended there last season, but we have to remember that it started against the same team as well,'' said Turner. "Hopefully, this game will bring the same sort of run.

"The fixtures have left us with three away games without a home game inbetween. But we should have got something last week - if we play like that we won't be going far wrong.

"We just need a little break to go for us. At the moment everything is going against us - the penalty miss last week sums things up. Tommy (Widdrington) missed the penalty, but there is no point in mulling over it, some of the best players in the world have missed penalties.

"There will be weeks when we play a lot worse than that and win. But we will keep working hard and stick to the same principles.''

Those principles have changed in the last couple of weeks as Turner changed to a 4-4-2 line-up from his long-preferred 3-5-2 set-up.

Turner told yesterday's Northern Echo Sport he is ready to stick to a flat back four.

"We've two home games to come and if we can get something from Southend it gives us something to build on,'' he said.

"There's still 40-odd games to go and there's no sense of panic around here. The good thing is that you look at the players in training and they are bright and buzzing and looking forward to the next game.

"We are not a million miles away from getting things together and starting another little run. I don't think you can look at the League table until after about 12 games. If you are top after 12 games then it's ideal, but there are enough points still to play for.

"Look at last year and the points we picked up during the unbeaten run. I would love to be in the top eight after 12 games and if we are then I am quite confident we can push to get into the top three over the following few weeks."

Chris Westwood could be in contention for a place on the bench this afternoon after training for the first time in a fortnight on Thursday.

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