Turner focused on putting Pool right

After almost a fortnight without a game, focused Pool go to Scunthorpe aiming to shake off their early season failings.

Pool lost back to back games with Darlington and Leyton Orient before a blank weekend last week and lie in the lower reaches of Division Three with four points from as many games.

And Turner admitted the rest has given both himself and his players the opportunity to put things right on the training ground.

"The time has given the players the chance to reflect on why we didn't get results against Darlington and Orient,'' said Turner.

"They have had a look at themselves and the break has given myself and Colin West the chance to take stock.

"One player who didn't play at Orient sat on the sidelines and he could see that we're not working hard enough and doing ourselves justice.''

Turner added: "Maybe losing to Darlington has magnified the situation.

"In the last couple of seasons we have had the better of them and perhaps some people thought it was a foregone conclusion that we would beat them again.

"But it never happens in a game like that - they beat us and deservedly so.

"People take it a little bit harder than if we had lost to another club in this division.

"But it's not as if we have been on the floor, we are just disappointed with the points total from the first four games.

"Leyton Orient didn't deserve to beat us. We gave them two soft goals.

"The last one certainly wouldn't have been given away if we weren't chasing the game.''

Last season, Pool enjoyed the best record in the Division on the road and after tasting success at Shrewsbury on August 18, Turner is sure his side can reap travelling rewards again this season.

"Away games are more difficult than a home game because you are going to be put under pressure, but we have the players here capable of winning games,'' he said.

"We have two home games coming up after Southend next week and we have nothing to fear. Nothing went right for us at Orient, but we will get things right.

"There's been 12 days since Orient and we have worked hard on the training ground and are changing one or two things around. We've tried things and now it is down to the players to put it into practice.''

Turner is likely to hand Darrell Clarke and Mark Robinson their first starts of the season, but is likely to be without skipper Micky Barron as he is suffering from a foot injury sustained at Brisbane Road.

The Pool chief is poised to change to a 4-4-2 line-up and right-sided defender Jon Bass is fit again after returning to training. Turner said: "We know what we are up against in Peter Beagrie and he is a good player at this level.

"Last season we lost twice at Scunthorpe and then beat them twice at home, so we both know all about each other.''

Kevin Henderson should returne after a strain kept him out at Orient and with Barron absent Turner must decide if Paul Stephenson - who stood in for Barron last season - or ex-Port Vale captain Tommy Widdrington will skipper the side.

Despite Pool's indifferent start to the season, Scunthorpe boss Brian Laws is expecting a tough encounter.

"They have brought in a few new players during the summer and this may be a settling-in period for them as well," said Laws.

"But I expect them to be there or thereabouts in the shake-up at the end of the season.

"They did very well last season to reach the play-offs where they were very unfortunate to meet a Blackpool team running right into form. It will be a tough game for us.''

* The Mill House Stand will be closed for Pool's home game with Cheltenham on Tuesday, September 18.

Despite a three-week break in home fixtures, extensive drainage work is still being completed.

Mill House terrace season ticket holders will be moved to the Town End, with seat holders moved into the Cyril Knowles Stand.

Admission to the Town End is by ticket only. Fans are advised to buy tickets for the Cyril Knowles Stand.

The Mill House Stand will be open for the game with Kidderminster on Saturday, September 25.

Read more about Hartlepool here.