Hartlepool United v Leyton Orient: Bingham-Fenwick partnership can blossom

The powerful Sunderland forward signed on a month’s loan and will come straight into the Pools squad for tomorrow’s televised clash with Leyton Orient.

His arrival comes at a vital time – Pools are struggling for goals and wins while leading scorer Billy Paynter is struggling with an Achilles problem.

But Bingham has put himself in contention for a start after impressing as a sub in the FA Cup win over Cheltenham Town.

The 22-year-old set up Kudus Oyenuga for the winner and came agonisingly close to laying on a match-clinching second for Scott Fenwick, the Geordie striker just failing to get on the end of a sumptuous ball across the face of goal.

And Bingham says has confidence in a partnership with Fenwick after the two hit it off when they were paired together back in January after joining from Mansfield Town.

“I played with Scott when I came on loan and I’ve got a good relationship with him too,” said the speedy striker.

“I think me and Scott clicked straight away and even last Saturday, you could see glimpses of that partnership from last year.

“I’m confident we can blossom.

“But I think me and Billy have also blossomed as a partnership this season.

“It was new to me this season but I think we’ve done well.”

Moore faces a tough call tomorrow, should Paynter be ruled out.

Does he go with the Fenwick-Bingham pairing which has done well or does he thrust Mandron straight in to what would be a new combination?

Whichever way he goes, Bingham will hope to be involved against Leyton Orient.

The O’s rejected the Londoner as a youngster, not that the West Ham-born striker is in any way bitter.

His motivation tomorrow is purely on winning points for 19th-placed Pools, who have not won at home in the league since August 18, though they did beat Cheltenham Town last week in the Fa Cup.

“Orient are a side just come down from League One and I assume their expectations will be automatic promotion,” said Bingham.

“They have one of the biggest budgets in League Two and I think they’ll do well. We’ll be looking to show them what we’re made of

“We haven’t had a home win since August.

“It was a very ugly win against Cheltenham, but you take them.

“At the end of the day, no-one is going to look at how you played and who dominated, you look at the result and see it was a 1-0 victory to us.

“We’ll take that into Sunday’s game and hopefully the rest of the season.”