Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor on 'massive positive' from opening weeks in charge

Challinor will take charge of his first match at Victoria Park when Pools host Boreham Wood in the National League this Saturday (3pm kick-off).

His two matches in charge so far have been an impressive 4-1 FA Cup win at Yeovil Town and a frustrating 2-2 draw at Ebbsfleet United last weekend.

There have been plenty of positives to take from the opening two performances and Challinor recognises there’s just as many things that need working on and addressing in the upcoming matches.

But one of the big positives for Pools in recent weeks has been their record in front of goal.

In their opening 16 matches of the season under Craig Hignett, United had scored on more than one occasion just five times. Yet in the seven matches since, Pools have already managed to equal that record.

“It’s a massive positive,” Challinor said about his side’s improving form in front of goal.

“It’s one thing I’d spoken about in the process before getting the job, there was a concern about the amount of goals we’d scored.

“When you look at it from the outside you think is that down to missing chances or is it a lack of creativity?

“Being here, I don’t think you can complain with what we’ve done creativity wise. What I will say is that there’s a balance between that.

“I’ve been really happy with the fact that looking at the games, we haven’t been wide open by any stretch, the disappointing thing is when you look at the goals we’ve conceded over the last three games, there have been goals that have come from nothing and that have been really preventable.

“You can’t give cheap goals away because it will ultimately come back and bite you.

“I’m really happy with lots of aspects of it but there’s still plenty to work on and as a manager or a coach you’ve got to see that as a big positive because there’s plenty more to come from us and that’s what we’ll be trying to improve on.”