Hartlepool United boss vows to "make changes" ahead of FA Trophy clash against Anstey Nomads

Pools are looking to bounce back following their first defeat in eight matches at the weekend, losing 2-0 to a resurgent Yeovil.

While many fans had been hoping Saturday would prove to be a memorable occasion after Featherstone was appointed as the club's permanent manager following a successful spell in caretaker charge, winning four and drawing three of his seven National League games at the helm, Pools were well below their best.

In truth, the home team could have few complaints about going down to a Yeovil side who have themselves been much-improved since the appointment of new boss Billy Rowley, who became the fourth man to take charge of the Glovers already this term when he landed the job at the end of last month.

Although Pools huffed and puffed and the lively Matty Daly, who has scored just once in 22 league appearances this season, went close on a couple of occasions, Yeovil shaded a hard-fought contest and the hosts struggled to contain their considerable threat on the counter-attack.

After Aaron Jarvis swept home a flowing move to hand the visitors the lead, Pools were forced to come out in search of an equaliser and Yeovil exploited the spaces the home side left at the back to make sure of the three points late on thanks to a fine individual effort from Luck McCormick, who scored for the third time in two games under Rowley.

Having tasted defeat and missed out on the chance to climb into the National League play-off places for the first time since September, therefore, Pools can ill-afford what would be an embarrassing slip-up against a Nomads side who have reached the third round of the Trophy for their first time in their history.

While Pools will start the game as strong favourites, Featherstone's side have bad recent memories of cup competitions and were dumped out of the FA Cup in humiliating fashion by Northern Premier League Premier Division side Gainsborough Trinity in the 37-year-old's first game in interim charge.

Having spent more than a decade at Victoria Park, Featherstone will be all too aware of divisive chairman and owner Raj Singh's notorious lack of patience when it comes to hiring and firing managers.

Indeed, of Singh's 13 permanent appointments prior to Featherstone, only promotion-winning boss Dave Challinor survived more than a year in the role, while Featherstone has played under a staggering 20 different managers since he first signed for Pools in October 2014.

With Featherstone set to undergo "a review of performance" at the end of the season, Pools will need to have a strong second half to the season if the new boss is to convince Singh he's the right man to lead the club in the long term - and that surely begins by avoiding another embarrassing cup upset against lower league opposition.

While Featherstone has vowed to make changes - versatile teenager Campbell Darcy, who was recalled from a successful loan spell at Northern Premier League Premier Division side Hebburn Town on Tuesday, could be one of those set to feature - the Pools boss insists his side should still have enough to get past Anstey as they bid to reach Wembley for the first time in the club's history.

"We go again, and we work hard towards winning on Saturday," Featherstone told the official Pools club website.

"It gives us an opportunity to maybe make a couple of changes, I'm not 100 per cent sure on the team yet.

"I'm going to see this as an opportunity to get a win, the club's never been to Wembley; it's probably the best opportunity, along with the play-offs, of getting to Wembley for us.

"Although we'll make changes, we'll still be a strong enough outfit, I think, that we can go on and win the game."

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