Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor shocked by Yeovil Town's winless start to the National League season

Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor admitted he’s shocked by Yeovil Town’s winless start to the 2020-21 National League season.
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After making the play-offs last season, The Glovers now sit bottom of the table with five points after eight games.

The Somerset outfit will be eyeing Saturday’s match at Huish Park against an out of form Hartlepool as a prime opportunity to pick up their first win of the campaign.

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But Challinor is keen to get things back on track for his side at the ground where he kicked off his Hartlepool managerial career with an impressive 4-1 win just over a year ago.

Dave Challinor urges his players on during the FA Cup match between Yeovil Town and Hartlepool United at Huish Park, Yeovil on Tuesday 12th November 2019. (Credit: Gareth Williams)Dave Challinor urges his players on during the FA Cup match between Yeovil Town and Hartlepool United at Huish Park, Yeovil on Tuesday 12th November 2019. (Credit: Gareth Williams)
Dave Challinor urges his players on during the FA Cup match between Yeovil Town and Hartlepool United at Huish Park, Yeovil on Tuesday 12th November 2019. (Credit: Gareth Williams)

“Yeovil have had a tough start for a side who are well fancied,” said the Hartlepool manager.

"They've drawn a lot of games and been beaten narrowly. We've watched a lot of their games and it's a squad full of quality and experience so it comes as a shock that they've had the start they've had.

"You would have backed them to be right up there but we go there positive, we've been good away from home and home advantage is nothing under the circumstances.”

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Hartlepool have won both of their matches away from home in the National League this season though their most recent victory came at Maidenhead United over a month ago.

Since then, a packed schedule littered with postponed and abandoned fixtures has proven to be a difficult period for Pools as they look to pick up their first win in five matches this weekend.

“It's been stop and start but that's an eventuality that will happen throughout the season,” Challinor added.

“It's difficult to build up momentum and get momentum going. It's about moving forward, recognising where we're at and moving on.

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We're in a situation where if we win Saturday and win Tuesday we're right back up there but we can't impact what has happened in the past.

"We travel to Yeovil on Saturday looking to get things back on track and we all know a win would go a long way to doing that and we're desperate to do that. We could do with a scrappy one to stop people thinking where it's one of those again and we become cautious, we've got to maintain that belief in what we're doing."

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