IF THE prospect of a Tuesday trip to Charlton wasn’t already unappealing, having to do so on the back of Hartlepool United’s worst home loss in 16 years makes it even harder to stomach.

Pools head to third-placed Charlton this evening, following Saturday’s 5-0 humbling by MK Dons.

While Chris Turner will change his team around and demand a positive reaction this evening, the Football League’s ruling that the game must be played so swiftly after it was postponed – just ten days – has angered the Pools boss.

“We had a break for a month or so without the usual training or schedule,’’ he said. “Now we have three games in a week.

“From no games, it’s to having them piled on us. It bugs us. A game was cancelled last week, why are we forced to play it this week when the conditions are still bad?

“I’ve seen games called off last week and rearranged for March – that’s more sensible.

“Football treats supporters with contempt. Our fans, if they want to go to every game, have to go to Charlton on Tuesday and then Bristol on Saturday.

“What’s that all about?

And then there’s the cost as well, coming just after Christmas.’’ He added: “If they went to Bristol on Saturday and then Charlton further down the season when we may not be travelling so much.

“To throw it in this week, it’s ridiculous.

“It’s a long week physically and mentally, a lot of travel time to and from London and to and from Bristol.’’ Sam Collins, Denis Behan, Colin Larkin and Steve Haslam are expected to return tonight.

Pools youth team take on Watford at Victoria Park tonight in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, with a trip to Liverpool awaiting the winners. (7pm).

Coach Micky Barron said: “Hopefully we will get a good crowd, even though the first team are playing.

“The lads have done well to get so far in the competition and will have to be on top form.’’ Admission tonight is £5 and £3.

Tomorrow’s reserve game with Leeds United has been put back to a 7pm kick-off at Billingham Town.

Pools (probable): Flinders; Haslam, Collins, Liddle, Austin; Larkin, Gamble, Sweeney, Monkhouse; Boyd, Behan.