WHEN it comes venting their frustration, few crowds do it better than Hartlepool United.
With tempers frayed and the faithful quick to direct their ire at the team, Chris Turner has issued a passionate rallying call ahead of tonight’s game.
Pools meet Gillingham at Victoria Park in a game in which three points are imperative.
Their last home run-out was a disaster, as Pools were whacked 5-0 by MK Dons in their most lifeless display in years.
Turner came under real fire from the crowd and, while that result has been followed with back-to-back away losses, their performances at Charlton and Bristol Rovers were much improved.
The club’s manager is confident of a quick turnaround and insists he is able to take the stick – provided the crowd lay off his players.
“I’ve got 100 per cent confidence in this squad of doing well and we will prove the doubters wrong,’’ he insisted.
“We will get the fans back behind the team and if people come with a positive attitude on Tuesday and encourage them when things go wrong.
“We totally outplayed Bristol Rovers in the first half on Saturday and when we came out for the second half their crowd got right behind them.”
He called on the fans to rally around the club: “Get behind the team and give them a great opportunity of winning, if they are like that every week you will get a response from the players I’m sure, “We need the fans to get behind the team and I’ve said before on many occasions if things aren’t going right, we as a company will make sure things do go right.
“Make your feelings known after the game – but get behind the individual players.”
Pools are in a poor run, with three wins in their last 14 and against tonight’s visitors who have yet to win away from home in League One this season, Turner knows what is expected.
Back in 2001, he led Pools to the play-offs in Division Three from the foot of the table and, after Saturday’s trek up the M5 on the back of a loss, he recalled a happy turnaround in fortunes.
“I remember a long time ago losing 1-0 at Plymouth and going bottom of the table after putting in a very good second half performance,’’ he said.
“Then we went and beat Hull who were top of the table 4-0 at Vicotria Park and that’s the sort of performance and result we are looking for on Tuesday night.
“If we play like Saturday with the finishing touches we will win the majority of our games I think for the rest of this year.’’ Turner is expected to stick with the same 4-5-1 formation used in the last two away games. Peter Hartley is in contention after suspension, and could replace Steve Haslam at left-back.
POOLS (probable): Flinders; Austin, Collins, Liddle, Hartley; Larkin, Gamble, Sweeeney, Humphreys, Monkhouse; Behan
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