Hartlepool United must 'build from the bottom' after Scunthorpe United defeat

Hartlepool United must ‘build from the bottom again’ after Saturday’s defeat against Scunthorpe United left them sitting in the National League relegation zone.

That was the verdict of Adam Clayton and he and Gary Liddle watched on as they suffered a 4-1 loss in their first game in interim charge of Pools. The afternoon started on a positive note for the duo as Will Harris fired home his third goal of the season with the half-hour approaching and that immediately raised hopes that a second away win of the campaign could be on the agenda.

However, that was as good as it got for Pools as former transfer target Pat Jones restored parity just minutes later before James Norwood, who was only announced as the Iron’s latest signing hours before kick-off, put the hosts in front just before half-time. Former Gateshead loan signing Kyle Hurst stretched the lead in the early stages of the second-half before Hugh Parker rounded off a comprehensive comeback from the Iron and handed them all three points to lift his side out of the relegation zone and leave Pools in the bottom four.

When asked if the defeat showed the size of the task of turning things around, Clayton told BBC Tees Sport: “From the outside, yes. But from the inside, when you see them everyday, and you see them training, you think this could be the day where it comes off and they start, nobody will get near them because we’ve got some really good players. If you don’t win duels and you don’t win battles, you can have all the pretty formations, all of the movements, the shape we do on a Friday where we do rotation, if you aren’t going to win duels, it means absolutely nothing. We have to start winning some duels, some first and second balls, and go from there and build from the bottom again”

Join the Mail’s WhatsApp HUFC Channel for the latest news, analysis and injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join.

‘We believe in the group’

The defeat also means Pools have now lost seven of their last eight games as the positivity conjured up by a perfect first week of the season is long forgotten. Pre-season predictions of a push for promotion back into the EFL is appearing increasingly fanciful and Clayton and Liddle look to find an improvement in fortunes ahead before a permanent successor for former head coach Lee Clark is appointed. Despite sitting in the relegation zone after Saturday’s loss, Clayton insisted Pools can still force themselves into the play-off picture and stressed he still ‘believes in the group’.

He said: “Not for me, I don’t look at a table until 10 or 12 games left in the season and you just have to make sure you’re in a nice position for whatever your aspirations are. I think our aspirations are looking at more can we get into the play-offs and I know that’s probably a ridiculous statement at this moment - but I believe in the group, we believe in the group, there’s some really good players and if you can go on a run, you can get there.”

Your next Hartlepool United read: Hartlepool United's shambolic season continues after 4-1 defeat at Scunthorpe United