Lee Clark has challenged Hartlepool United to remain true to their identity as they look to respond to their first setback of the season against Eastleigh on Friday night.
Pools return to Victoria Park having collected six points from their opening three Enterprise National League fixtures.
Successive victories and clean sheets against Barrow and Aldershot Town provided an encouraging start before Clark’s side suffered a 2-1 defeat at Sutton United last weekend.
The Pools Head Coach was disappointed with the performance at the VBS Community Stadium but has been impressed by the accountability and determination shown by his players since returning to training.
“What has pleased me is that we’ve given ourselves an identity in terms of how we want to play,” said Clark.
“I realised very quickly during pre-season that this group has a terrific work ethic and desire.
“We had a setback in the last game, but I’ve loved the reaction from the players. They’ve shown their disappointment with both the result and the performance, whether that has been on the training pitch or by coming to speak to me and the staff.
“Everybody has taken accountability. We win together and we lose together. We enjoy the victories as a group, but we also accept responsibility when we don’t get the result.”
First-half goals from Temi Babalola and Emmanuel Osadebe put Sutton in control before Corey McKeown reduced the deficit with his second goal in successive games.
Pools were unable to find an equaliser after the interval, bringing their unbeaten start to an end.
Clark believes difficult moments provide an important examination of a team’s character and has been encouraged by the response throughout the week.
“You see the true characteristics of people when they face adversity,” he explained.
“Since the Sutton result, I’ve seen some really positive characteristics come out of the players.
“We took a bit of a whack on the nose, but we have to bounce back. I have no doubt that we’ll produce a positive reaction on Friday.”
Pools demonstrated different qualities during their opening victories.
They combined an aggressive press with attacking quality to defeat Barrow 2-0 at Victoria Park before showing patience and defensive resilience to earn a 1-0 win at Aldershot.
McKeown’s winner at the EBB Stadium also underlined the contribution Clark has received from throughout his squad.
The forward scored ten minutes after being introduced from the bench before finding the net again on his first league start at Sutton.
“The squad has been brilliant,” Clark continued.
“When the substitutes have come on, they’ve made an impact. They’ve maintained the level of the performance and, at times, made it even stronger.
“Selecting the team and the substitutes has involved some difficult decisions, but there has been no negative reaction.
“Of course, players are disappointed when they aren’t in the team. I understand that and I want them to feel that way, but they’ve knuckled down and continued to show on the training pitch that they’re ready.
“When their opportunity has come, they’ve taken it. The attitude of the players has been second to none.”
Clark is determined to see Pools rediscover the intensity and fearlessness that underlined their opening two performances.
The Head Coach believes moving away from those principles contributed to the defeat at Sutton and expects his side to show their identity with and without the ball against Eastleigh.
“The biggest lesson is that we have to be ourselves and remain true to what we want to be,” he said.
“If we come away from that, even slightly, it can affect the whole performance.
“We want to press with high intensity, be on the front foot and play without fear. If we show that mentality, we give ourselves the opportunity to earn positive results.
“We dropped below those standards at Sutton and it affected the outcome. We have to get back to what we are about.”
Eastleigh have also collected six points from their opening three fixtures, defeating Gateshead and Scunthorpe United at home either side of a narrow loss at Kidderminster Harriers.
Clark expects another demanding examination from Matt Gray’s well-organised and physical side but wants Pools to begin establishing Victoria Park as a formidable place for visiting teams.
“Every game in this league is difficult in different ways,” he added.
“Eastleigh have taken six points from their first nine and they’re very well drilled, well organised and powerful.
“But they’re coming to our home and we want to make Victoria Park a fortress. We’ll approach the game positively and look to earn another result.”
Clark also provided an encouraging update on Max Merrick and Jack Nolan.
Merrick is due to return to training after undergoing tests with parent club Chelsea, while Nolan could be included among the substitutes if he successfully completes his final assessment.
“Max has undergone all his tests at Chelsea and will return to train with us, which is a huge boost,” Clark confirmed.
“That takes nothing away from Nathan Fisher, who did his job really well at Sutton. Max has been outstanding since he came into the Club.
“There is also a possibility that Jack could be available. He still has to come through his testing, but the most we would ask of him would be a place on the bench and possibly some minutes towards the end of the game.
“He has missed nearly two weeks of training, so it would be too much to ask him to start.
“Owen Hampson and Luke Charman are progressing really strongly. They’re ticking off the days and getting closer to returning.”
Friday will be Pools’ first appearance at Victoria Park since the opening-day victory over Barrow.
Having been backed by sizeable travelling followings at Aldershot and Sutton, Clark is excited to lead his side under the lights and once again experience the support of the Pools faithful.
“The support during the two away games was superb and the atmosphere at our first home game was unbelievable,” he concluded.
“Playing under the lights will make Friday night really special. We don’t take that support for granted and we’re excited to experience it again.”
