Dave Challinor questions leadership in Hartlepool United squad following defeat to Torquay United

Pools were soundly beaten 5-0 by Torquay United on Saturday afternoon in what was their first defeat of the new season.

And Challinor felt let down by his players’ failure to take responsibility during the game.

When asked if the weekend’s performance highlighted a lack of leadership, the Pools boss responded: “Without question, it’s the modern game and leadership isn’t abundant in lots of facets.

“If you’re not in a position where you have one or two stand out leaders, then everyone needs to do their bit.

"There weren’t people who went missing but that’s not what it’s about, it’s about taking responsibility and not allowing someone else to take responsibility.

"I’m looking at our central defenders, two young central defenders who have aspirations of playing higher, you have to start dragging players about.

"It shouldn’t matter if you’re 35 or 21, you have to do it because it’s ultimately going to come down to you so you’ve got to make your job as easy as you can.

“If that means slagging someone off and dragging them in and getting them to do a job in front of you then so be it, it’s not about being nice, it’s about doing what you can to get a result.”

Pools were without their most experienced defender Gary Liddle on Saturday as the 34-year-old recovers from a persisting groin injury. Centre-back Timi Odusina could also be facing a spell on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury on Saturday.

“You’re always going to miss your experienced players but even Lidds is not necessarily the leader type," Challinor continued.

“I think he could be more vocal in terms of organising and getting people around him. If it means he’s dragging Luke Molyneux in, for example, and he’s on at him all the time, that’s fundamentally going to make the job easier.

"If you’re a defender, you want to make your job as easy as you can and you’ve got to use the people in front of you to do that otherwise you’ll have to be very good at your job one v one and at times one v two which becomes very difficult.”

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