Depleted Gulls still a threat, warns Pools’ boss

HARTLEPOOL United manager Dave Challinor is refusing to pay any attention to Torquay United’s recent dip in form as his side prepares to take on the National League leaders.

Pools made the long trip to Devon yesterday as they look to claim a win which would take them level on points with their hosts.

The Gulls were in fine form until the turn of the year but have won just one of their first seven games on 2021 ahead of Tuesday night’s narrow win at Solihull Moors.

That dip in form has coincided with long-term injuries to Liam

Davis, Andrew Nelson and Danny Wright and the likes of former Newcastle United youngster Kyle Cameron and defender Joe Lewis have also spent time on the sidelines.

Their numbers were further depleted when former Gateshead goalkeeper Shaun MacDonald was shown a red card in the win at Solihull – but Gulls’ boss Gary Johnson has plugged that gap with the loan signing of QPR goalkeeper Marcin Brzozwski.

Despite facing a depleted Torquay side, Challinor has warned his Pools squad they still face a tough challenge as they look to give a further boost to their hopes of returning to the Football League.

He said: “Torquay have had a sticky run themselves, which every team will have during the course of the season.

“The only team which hasn’t had a sticky run is Sutton and if they don’t do that, the way things stand, they sit in pole position.

“Torquay’s run comes on the back on injuries to key players at key times, which means you change your squad and you lose that continuity.

“They have found it a little more challenging and things haven’t gone their way.

“However, they are still up at the top of the league where they deserve to be based on what they have done between the start of October and now.

“We know it’s a tough place to go but we are in decent nick and we are looking forward to the game.

“We know it will be a really tough game against a direct opponent.

“We cannot overtake them but we can get three points closer to them and that is something we are looking to do.”