Pools star: Rochdale more important than Leeds
DENIS Behan today insisted Hartlepool United's focus remains on their league opener rather than causing a pre-season upset over Leeds United.
Pools host Championship new boys Leeds in their only Victoria Park pre-season friendly on Saturday as Chris Turner's side look for a morale-boosting victory ahead of the League One curtain raiser at Rochdale on Saturday, August 7.
Around 1,000 Leeds supporters are expected at the Vic in the hunt for revenge after last season's 2-2 draw almost derailed the automatic promotion challenge of Simon Grayson's outfit.
Behan acknowledges that Leeds, who lost 4-0 at League Two Bury on Tuesday, will provide a stern test after bringing in five new signings over the summer, including ex-Pools loanee Neill Collins.
But Rochdale are the target for Behan and Pools rather than Leeds, with the first-team facing just three more friendlies before the trip to Spotlands.
Behan said: "All our training is geared towards Rochdale.
"Leeds is a game that everyone enjoys and the fans enjoy.
"But the main focus is on Rochdale.
"If we lose every pre-season game and win every league game, no-one will care.
"That's the way we've been training.
"Mick (Wadsworth, first-team coach) has come in and he sets high standards.
"Chris and Mick are not going to take second best and they're pushing us and pushing us."
FULL story in Thursday's Mail
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Weather for Hartlepool
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South
