Jamie Miley wants Hartlepool to be United in crucial Tamworth clash
Hartlepool United will face National League rivals Tamworth at Victoria Park on Saturday afternoon.
Jamie Miley has challenged his Hartlepool United team-mates to take the positive aspects of their performance in Tuesday night’s defeat against Harrogate Town into this weekend’s crucial home clash with Tamworth.
The former Newcastle United midfielder produced an impressive display in the heart of the Pools side as they suffered an eighth defeat in their last nine games at Victoria Park as Bailey Hobson’s second-half goal was enough to hand the points to the visitors. Pools will now make a quickfire return to their home patch on Saturday afternoon as they look to end their dismal run of form and escape the National League relegation zone.
Miley was heartened by the backing his side received from the home faithful - and insisted they can end their long wait for a win if they show similar levels on and off this pitch when they face Tamworth on Saturday.
He said: “I think, obviously, we want to give them the three points and the win, but I think they could see the performance was there, the effort was there - and I think we are just missing the goals really. I think they’ll come. It’s more of a confidence thing at the minute. The performance was there and that’s a good thing to take into Saturday and hopefully we can get the three points on Saturday. It felt good on the pitch, the crowd was behind us. That is Hartlepool, that’s what it is. If we can do that again Saturday, I think it’ll give us that bit more again to push on and hopefully score a few goals.”
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‘I think he showed his qualities’
Miley was joined by a familiar face in the Pools starting eleven as his former Newcastle United academy team-mate Max Thompson was handed an immediate debut by interim management team Adam Clayton and Gary Liddle. The 22-year-old goalkeeper has joined Pools on a short-term deal and Miley is pleased to have been reunited with his former team-mate at Victoria Park.
He said: “Obviously, I’ve known Tommo a long time. I was at Newcastle’s academy with him and I’ve known him from a young age. I think he showed his qualities tonight and I’m pleased he’s here. He’s a top lad I’d say.”
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