AFTER two defeats in a row Chris Turner would rather have had his Hartlepool United players in action today.

Darlington and Leyton Orient both recorded wins over Pool last weekend, but instead of enjoying time off Turner would rather be leading his troops out again.

This afternoon Turner will just have to watch the results roll in because the game with Hull City was postponed due to the Tigers' international call-ups.

"I'm disappointed that we are not playing," admitted Turner, whose squad took part in a behind-closed doors friendly with Middlesbrough yesterday.

"It now means we will have another fixture to play later in the season. It has also meant that we will have to play three away games on the trot. First it was Orient and now we have got to go to Scunthorpe and Southend."

Pool are expected to make a serious challenge for promotion during this campaign, but after one win in their opening four matches doubts have crept in among fans.

Turner, however, is convinced his players will come good and the work they have put in on the training ground has pleased their boss.

More positive signs were taken from the match with Boro, even though the Premiership outfit won 3-0. "It was a good exercise for us against a lot of good players," said Turner. "They scored one and then we kept them relatively at bay after that. But we made a lot of changes and they scored two in the last 20 minutes.

"Over the past week and in the training exercise today the players are still confident and once the mistakes have been sorted out we will be all right."

Both Michael Barron and Jon Bass were missing yesterday with foot problems.

Pool defender Gordon Simms last night played in Northern Ieland 2-0 under-21 defeat in Denmark.

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