Hartlepool United v Leyton Orient: Ronnie Moore hopes Pools turn corner

Pools ended a run of eight games without a home win when they scraped home 1-0 against Cheltenham Town in the FA Cup last weekend.

And Moore hopes that success, no matter how ugly, can spark a return to form, starting with Sunday’s home League Two match with Leyton Orient in front of the Sky Sports cameras (kick-off 12.15 pm).

The Pools boss sees parallels from last season’s fortuitous 1-0 victory at Morecambe, a result which kicked off a five-match unbeaten run, including four wins.

“This game is on TV and we can’t play like we did last Saturday,” said Moore.

“We have to be professional but go show that we can play and show a little bit of confidence

“Hopefully that win, no matter how you get it, sometimes it can be the making of you.

“Look at Morecambe away last season.

“How we won there 1-0, I’ll never know.

“Morecambe had deflections, the ball went over the bar, they had about 100 shots to our three and we won 1-0!

“We then went on a nice little run and hopefully the Cheltenham game can be a catalyst for us now to push on a little bit.”

But Moore knows how hard Sunday’s lunchtime fixture will be.

Leyton Orient, under boss Ian Hendon, are looking to bounce straight back to League One following relegation in May.

The Eastenders began the season superbly and while they have lost three of their last seven in the division, they are seventh, only two points outside the automatic promotion places.

And the O’s showed their form last week in the FA Cup, bltzing Staines Town at Brisbane Road.

“Orient are doing well and they won 6-1 in the cup which was a fantastic result,” said Moore.

“They have a good squad, good strikers, Palmer and Simpson up top and Cox who is a fabulous player.

“If you don’t look after those players you are in big trouble.

“Defensively they are sound, they have good experience it’s as tough a match you can ask for, especially for a TV game.”

Moore has made no signings this week, following on from the double arrival ahead of the FA Cup tie with the Robins.

The Pools chief said the arrival of defender Adam Jackson, from Middlesbrough, and Crystal Palace midfielder, Jake Gray, was a shot in the arm for the squad.

“We are always looking,” Moore said.

“Some players we brought in [in the summer] haven’t progressed how we wanted to, so they may need a rest.

“It’s hard to get all the signings in to blend together.

“Adam did well last week, as did Jake, at times, and there’s more to come from him.

“You don’t necessarily want five in at the same time, you want your own team don’t you?

“But if it improves the squad and gives us a bit more confidence, especially in these tough weeks, then it’s OK.

“You are constantly looking for fresh blood to brighten things up.”