Lee Clark assesses possible system change ahead of Hartlepool United's visit to Altrincham

Lee Clark has played down talk of a change in system as Hartlepool United turn their focus towards an away day at National League rivals Altrincham in midweek.

The Pools boss opted to pair summer signings Will Harris and Chris Popov in a two-man forward line once again in Friday night’s visit to Kidderminster Harriers - although neither player really made an impact as Clark’s side came out second best at Aggborough. A first-half own goal from Neo Eccleston and a second-half strike from Callum Stewart were enough to hand all three points to the hosts and extend Pools’ recent run of form to four defeats in their last five games.

Some have suggested Pools issues lie in their attacking setup with Clark’s new-look side scoring just five goals in their seven league games so far this season. That figure is the joint-lowest in the National League and is only matched by North East neighbours Gateshead. By contrast, Pools have the second best defensive record with just six goals conceded, a total only improved by an Aldershot Town side currently sitting in the play-off places.

Clark and his coaching staff will return to the training pitch ahead of Wednesday night’s visit to Altrincham - and the Pools boss insisted his system had worked after his side won three of their first six games this season.

When asked if he could consider a change of system, he told BBC Tees Sport: “You’ve obviously been listening to social media. The system’s worked, we’ve won three out of six and we’ve got the best defensive, probably not now, but the second best defensive record, but we had the best defensive record coming into the game. We’ve got four strikers, what am I going to do? Just play with one? I’ve even seen when we went down to ten, we stayed with two strikers on the pitch. If we are going to go down the old tactical route, everyone is obsessed with it, aren’t they? Everyone is a top coach. If we lose, it’s down the tactics, it’s down to the system. But it never gets mentioned when you win.”

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‘We have to be more ruthless’

Clark insisted his side must be more ruthless if they are going to find the net on a more regular basis - but stressed their inability to win loose balls across the pitch was the key factor in their lack of goalscoring opportunities against the Harriers.

He said: “We have to be more ruthless. But even in the first-half, eleven against eleven, I don’t think the keeper had a save to make, but that’s because we didn’t win the battles. If you’re not getting on the ball, if you’re not dropping on second balls, you’re not going to be able to pass the ball around because you’re never in it, you’re always on the back foot. That’s the way it was, everything about the performance, from me and the players, wasn’t good enough.”

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