Hartlepool United's Brad Walker glad to be back home for Plymouth Argyle clash

Brad Walker hopes the return home will revive Hartlepool United's fortunes.
Brad Walker. Picture by Howard Roe/AHPIX.comsBrad Walker. Picture by Howard Roe/AHPIX.coms
Brad Walker. Picture by Howard Roe/AHPIX.coms

Pools have dropped to 19th in League Two on the back of two comprehensive defeats at two clubs in the play-off berths, Mansfield (4-0) and Luton Town (3-0).

It gets no easier today with title-chasing Plymouth Argyle visiting the Northern Gas & Power Stadium (kick-off 3pm).

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Walker, set to deputise at the back in place of the the injured Matthew Bates, says it is good to be back on familiar ground.

“I don’t know what it is about us and away games, maybe a bit of fear is coming into it,” admitted the 21-year-old.

“But I think the lads will get over it, but it’s nice to be at home and we have a chance to get over the last two results.

“We have Plymouth now.

“That’s the good thing about League Two, after Tuesday’s defeat we have another chance to go again.

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“Hopefully we can do ourselves justivce and win three points.”

Pools are unbeaten in their last two home matches, a win over

Stevenage and a draw with Yeovil Town.

While hardly a Chelsea-style run of form, it is something to build on as was the bulk of Tuesday night’s display at Kenilworth Road.

Pools were all at sea early on against the Hatters, conceding twice in the opening 13 minutes though things did improve significantly.

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“The first 15 minutes were horrible,” said Walker. “I don’t know why are starting so slowly.

“Barring that I thought we were the only team in it.”

Joe Fryer will make his Vic debut this afternoon having made an excellent bow at Luton in midweek.

While he conceded three goals, there was much to admire in the 21-year-old goalkeeper, who is on loan from, Middlesbrough until the end of the season.

And Walker says Pools have got themselves a good stopper on their books.

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“I’ve known Joe a long time, I was with him in the academy at Middlesbrough,” said the midfielder.

“He’s always been a good goalkeeper, I thought he was brilliant against Luton.”

Walker looks favourite to play at centre-half tomorrow with Bates (hamstring) ruled out for at least two weeks with potential replacement, Liam Donnelly, undergoing treatment to an ankle injury.