Alex Reid hoping goals can help Hartlepool United "become a real force" in the National League

It's been a mixed start to the new campaign both for Reid and Pools, with a run of underwhelming results threatening to derail initial progress. Pools made a lightning fast start under new manager Simon Grayson, picking up 10 points from the first 12 available and keeping four successive clean sheets. Having come from behind to secure a hard-fought point at well-fancied Southend over the August bank holiday weekend, fans were hoping that home games against newly-promoted Boreham Wood and slow-starting Boston would provide Pools with the perfect platform to cement their promotion credentials. In the end, it didn't quite work out like that as Pools, who had Maxim Kouogun sent off, were held by the Wood while a set-piece proved their undoing during a frustrating draw with the Pilgrims. Although there was no disgrace in defeat at unbeaten Forest Green Rovers, there was a real sense of disappointment following Saturday's goalless draw with Brackley, with some fans slamming it as one of the worst performances in recent memory.

Indeed, a lack of goals is beginning to become something of a concern at Victoria Park. Having scored eight times in their first five matches, Pools have managed just one in their last four. While their newfound defensive solidity represents a real positive - Pools have kept six clean sheets in nine games this term, conceding just three goals - it could well mean little if they can't get firing in front of goal. Following the departures of both Mani Dieseruvwe, who scored 43 goals in 89 games during a prolific spell in the North East, and the indefatigable Joe Grey, who opened his account for York during their win over Braintree at the weekend, Pools moved to bolster their attacking options with a number of new signings. Reid, who scored 17 goals in 32 National League games for a struggling Wealdstone side last term, was perhaps the most high profile new arrival, but there were also big things expected of Danny Johnson, who scored a hat-trick against Pools while playing for Walsall, Jermaine Francis and Matty Daly.

So far, things have been tough going. Although Reid, who managed 21 goals in all competitions last season and played a huge part in helping the Stones beat the drop in dramatic fashion on the final day of the campaign, has made a reasonable start to his Pools career, scoring three times, there has been a concerning lack of threat in recent weeks. Reid, who is determined to reach the 20-goal mark again this term, struck three times in his first four matches but is now without a goal in five games, while Johnson is yet to open his account and lost his place in the side to Luke Charman earlier this month. Jermaine Francis, who scored against Pools while on loan at Braintree last term, has been generally impressive, but Daly still looks like he's getting up to speed despite one or two flashes of quality. It's no huge surprise, then, that some Pools fans have been casting increasingly jealous glances in the direction of Greater Manchester, where Mani Dieseruvwe has scored seven times in his first eight Rochdale appearances.

Given the scale of change at Victoria Park over the summer - Pools made 12 signings, and have since welcomed veteran striker Vadaine Oliver as well as versatile midfielder Nathan Ferguson - it's no surprise that things are taking time to gel. Pools fans, therefore, would be well-advised to be patient, but that patience will only last so long. Having dropped out of the play-off places at the weekend, Pools can ill-afford to lose too much more ground in the race for the top seven, even at this early stage in the season, and will need to arrest their recent slump sooner rather than later if they're to stand any chance of competing with some of the biggest and most financially well-resourced clubs in the league. Nonetheless, Reid, speaking to Dazn, remains upbeat about his new side's chances of gatecrashing the promotion party this season.

"As a striker, when it comes down to it, you live and die by your goals," he said.

"People are always going to judge you on how many goals you score, I've got three so far this season, I want to replicate what I did last season and score 20 again. I went to Wealdstone last year from October and by December I had 13 goals, so if I can get anywhere close to that, around 15 goals by the Christmas or January mark, then I'll be in good stead for that.

"I just want to have a really good push with Hartlepool, and prove to the league and to the fans that we are a big club, that Hartlepool is a big club with a big fanbase. If we can get momentum and start winning games, we can become a real force. We shouldn't look at other teams in this league, like Carlisle, Forest Green and York, and think that we can't be hanging up there with them. We want to have a push at the league, have a real good go at the play-offs, attack the league and if I can get 20 goals, then it will be a great season for myself."

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