Dave Challinor reveals what Hartlepool United can expect from Stockport County and his inside edge

Pools host Stockport County at The Vic on Tuesday evening in another behind-closed-doors National League fixture (KO 6pm) and Challinor will come across several players he has previously managed in the Stockport ranks.

That will give Pools an added edge and Challinor wants a victory to kick-start a Christmas run of results.

The visitors are 10th in the National League, a point and three places above Pools and they have played three fewer games than Challinor’s men.

Challinor said: “They’re a good team with a really strong squad where they’ve got two players in every position which is the envy of every manager at this level.

"As I’ve said, it’s a simple game 11 v 11 on a bland piece of grass at the moment with no supporters in the ground making a racket.

"We know it’ll be tough and that they’re an organised team who are a threat from set-pieces.

"We’ll have to deal with that but we have to go into the game thinking we can win the game and look at where we can cause them problems which I undoubtedly think we can.

"I know a lot of their players, there are probably seven players in their squad who have played for me so I know what they’re like as individuals and characters. It’s a squad full of quality but I think we can go out there and match them.

"We need to get a run going and get a bit of momentum.”

Challinor added: “They’ve recruited the best National League players from all clubs that they could. They have investment and real ambition to get to where they want to be.

"But these are the games you want to be involved in, they’re good games and the big pity is that there aren’t 4,000 fans in The Vic with our fans and Stockport fans packed in there.

"That’s the big disappointment because, as we saw last season, it’s a game where the atmosphere can really be special and that can reflect in our performance on the pitch.”

A message from the Football Clubs Editor

Our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative Hartlepool United coverage 365 days a year.

This depth of coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to, please consider taking out a subscription to our new sports-only package here.

Your support is much appreciated. Richard Mennear, Football Clubs Editor