Preview: Hartlepool Need Comeback After Cup Shock

Hartlepool United look to improve following last weeks cup defeat at the hands of non-league Kettering Town

After a string of good results Hartlepool's good run of form came to a crashing halt after they where knocked out of the 1st round of the FA Cup by non-league Kettering Town.

Hartlepool now have nothing but the league to concentrate on and Chris Turner will be looking for a reaction. With the Hartlepool fans growing more disappointed and angry with the poor home form, Turner will need a reaction from his team if he wants to keep the fans onside during the busy festive period.

Turner will have a lot of decisions to make regarding his team, for the first time Turner has injured, tired and under performing players and with such a big squad will other players be given a chance to shine? If they are it looks like it will be at the expense of the strikers.

''Denis is maybe lacking confidence, it certainly looks that way. OK, you cannot blame one person for not scoring goals, but he isn't looking like the same player from the start of the season.

''I don't think Adam is looking as bright and sharp as we want him to be, he was not on top of his game.

''Even though the team played well in the first-half, I don't think the strikers did as well as they could do. It's something to think about, and something you don't expect, but you don't expect that situation, we've never had it before''
- Chris Turner (HUFC)

Despite no win in the last 4 games. Orient could still be in the 2nd round of the FA Cup if they can get a result in the replay against Tranmere Rovers. The O's have struggled with inconsistency all season, both home and away. Picking up 3 wins, 3 loses and 1 draw in the last 7 league outings.

Boss Geraint Williams will be happy with the news that his treatment room is now empty with Mkandawire and Chambers returning to training this week.

With that, Williams will be hoping that a fully-fit squad creates extra competition for places. Now the Orient players will have to perform 'consistently' or face the chop.

''The injury list is looking very good at the moment, which we're delighted about. There are lots of people pushing for starts and what it means is that when you get in the team you have to play well to keep your jersey - that kind of competition is what we want.''
- Geraint Williams (Leyton Orient)

It is likely that Hartlepool will keep same backline that has kept 7 clean sheets in the league so far this season. Ritchie Jones is expected to come back into the centre of midfield after completing 90 minutes for the reserves mid-week, without any re-occurrence to the injury that forced him onto the bench against Kettering. James Brown and Leon McSweeney will be assessed before Saturday's game, however it is unlikely that either will start against the O's.

Question marks remain over who will fill the right wing void, Larkin could keep his place after an impressive display in the FA Cup but if Behan and/or Boyd are rested then he could be pushed up top to partner Bjornsson or Greulich.

Ritchie Jones looked like he was on his way out of Hartlepool at the start of the season. A transfer request was quickly withdrawn, however the midfielder was left out of the team for the first 5 games.

Since then he has risen to the challenge and looks like a new player. Playing a positive, high-energy game, with a good eye for a pass. Jones has the ability to un-lock any League One defence.

Geraint Williams could have a fully fit squad to choose from for the trip to Hartlepool. Tamika Mkandawire and Adam Chambers have returned to training this week after missing several games with head and back injuries respectively. Both players will travel with the squad but Williams will make his final decision on the pair at the end of the week.

Williams rested a few players in Orients mid-week, penalty shoot-out defeat in the JPT clash with Hereford. It is more than likely that all 1st team regulars will be back in the squad to face Hartlepool as the O's look to climb the table.

Veteran journey-man Scott McGleish is in his fifth stint with Leyton Orient, the club he scored his 1st senior goal for back in 1994/95 season. He has also played for O's boss Geraint Williams before re-joining Orient in February 2009 on-loan, a deal made permanent in the summer. McGleish has 209 Career goals to his name; five of them have come in his last 11 games for Orient.

Hartlepool Assistant Manager is one of the 13 players to have played for both clubs, as is Adam Boyd who will face his old club for the first time since returning to Hartlepool United. There has only been 1 draw between the two teams in the last 10 years. However Pools have only won once in the last four meetings, home and away.

Hartlepool United 1 - 1 Leyton Orient

There are only 4 points separating the two sides and that will be reflected come the final whistle. Orient are as inconsistent away from home as Hartlepool are at home. If the two sides are to be separated it will be by the narrowest of margins.

Next up for Hartlepool is a short trip to Huddersfield Town. This game marks the beginning of a very difficult few months for Hartlepool the outcome of which will undoubtedly shape the rest of the season

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