CHRIS Turner insists Hartlepool United won’t be going to Bristol Rovers tomorrow in the aim of shutting up shop to try and secure their League One status.
Pools must avoid defeat tomorrow to make sure they stay in the same division for next season.
Even in defeat, they are still able to stay up should results go against Carlisle, Northampton or Brighton, the three other teams trying to avoid fourth-bottom spot.
“We go there to win – not that it’s happened too often in recent seasons away from home,’’ he admitted.
“But we always go with the intentions of winning, we don’t go away thinking we could earn a point and keep it tight for 90 minutes. All it takes is one slip, one lack of concentration and you are out of it.
“Bristol don’t have anything riding on the game, but they are a professional team and won’t want to lose the game. I don’t expect any favours and no-one in the division will from anyone.’’ Northampton must at least draw at Leeds to leapfrog Pools, while Carlisle need to beat Millwall and overturn a six-goal deficit on Pools in the process.
Brighton face Stockport at home. The visitors yesterday entered administration and, while a ten point deduction puts them on the same points as Pools – 50 – they are safe from the drop because of goal difference.
“We wanted it to be finished way before this week, but as life has it we go to Bristol needing something from the game,’’ added Turner, who confirmed that Micky Nelson will play with seven stitches in a head wound, but Joel Porter needs two or three weeks treatment on a hamstring strain.
“We played well against Leeds last week and could have said that 15 or 20 games a season – we can compete with neatly everyone in the division but no beat them.
“We nearly do it, but very rarely do. We have to be positive and we always are – attitude in training and around the club has never changed.
“Team spirit is very good, and at some clubs it’s not the same.’’
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